AGONISING TWO RUN DEFEAT TO ORMSKIRK IN NATIONAL QUARTER FINAL.

31st Jul 2025

AGONISING TWO RUN DEFEAT TO ORMSKIRK IN NATIONAL QUARTER FINAL.

                      Sun 27th July 2025: ECB National Club Championship ¼ final 

                         SNCC v Ormskirk (36/36o.. rain delayed start by 90 mins)

Ormskirk 204-9 (36o) Calum Turner 41, George Lavelle 59, Sam Holden 20, Ian Robinson 24*: Jonny Wightman 0-66, Cody Hoffmeister 4-36, Will Alexander 1-27, Oli McGee 1-44, George Drissell 1-24.

SNCC 202-8 (36o) Sam Ewart 35, Chris Hewison 28, Will Alexander 52*, Oli McGee 29: Sam Marsh 2-38, Toby Bulcock 0-49, Sam Holden 2-25, Tom Brown 1-41, Jamie Barnes 3-41.

Ormskirk won by 2 runs.

Chasing the visitors 204, a total boosted by 15 from the last over, from the depths of 102-6 in the 26th over, the Bulls produced a stirring fightback, based largely on the admirable attacking instincts of 17 year old Will Alexander (52* 28b, 5x4, 2x6) in partnership with Nathan Gough (8) of 40 & then with Oli McGee (29, 24b,3x4,1x6) of 52, to arrive at the last over on 194-7 needing 11 to win.

Drilling the first ball from Marsh through extra cover for 4 to get to198, Oli then, agonisingly, could not connect with the next three to get Will back on strike & sadly lofted a catch to point from ball 4 giving an impossible 7 to win from one ball. Jonny pulling for 4 from the last saw the Bulls end at 202-8. Tense & so disappointing for players & spectators alike !!

Their woe was compounded by a contentious decision from the last ball of the penultimate over as a drive by Will to long on was claimed to be fairly stopped thus conceding only two.

The start was delayed by 90 minutes as the umpires would not begin as a very light & intermittent drizzle persisted. The visitors were  invited to bat. Turner & Politis faced Wightman & Hoffmeister. Cody yorked Politis (0) first ball of the second over but Turner & Lavelle took 6x4 in the first 4 overs. Will began a good spell of 5 overs for only 15 but Lavelle lofted Oli for 6 to mid wicket in the 9th, 74-1.

In the 11th Turner (41, 35b, 7x4) who had driven nicely but was untested against the short ball, drove hard back to Oi who took a sharp catch chest high. At 110 in the 17th Knight (11) edged Cody to w/k Sam. In over 19 Lavelle (59, 61b, 8x4 1x6), a good, run a ball innngs, hooked Cody towards deep, forward square leg where Sol made good ground to take the catch,121-4.

George Drissell had begun a spell in over 16 & in his 4th Holden nudged toward cover but non striker Brown (6) could not beat Adam's direct hit to the w/k stumps, 136-5. At 157 in the 31st Holden (20) was lbw to George on the crease working to leg, 6 down. Rankin (16) edged Oli to w/k Sam in the 31st. In the 32nd Marsh (4) lofted Will to mid wicket where a retreating Birty took a head high catch.

One over later Bulcock (1) drove back to Cody who took a sharp chance on follow through, 178-9. Robinson (24*,28b, 2x4) & Barnes (4*) then combined to push the total to 204 including 15 from Jonny's last over. In a game of fine margins, three mis fields cost three runs, 7 wides & one no ball but no dropped chances.

Sam Ewart  & Sol Bell faced the seam of Marsh & the sla of Bulcock. In over 5 Holden began a very good spell of 5 overs for 8 runs. 31 without loss after the 7 over power play, Ormskirk had been 54. In over 9 Sol (9) was bowled by Marsh, 35-1. Three overs later George (4) was lbw to Holden to one that seemed to keep low.

Chris drove Bulcock straight for 6 in over 17 but in the next, Sam (35, 59b,4x4) survived one legside stumping appeal off Barnes but next ball overbalanced & was stumped off another wide, 66-3. Drinks were taken.

At 82 in the 22nd Birty (8) driving Barnes edged to w/k Knight standing up, 4 down. At 100 Chris (22,39b 2x4 1x6) to his dismay advanced to drive Brown's spin but missed & was stumped, 100-5. Adam (9) mistimed to cover off Barnes in the next 102-6 in the 26th. At the same stage Ormskirk had been 153-5.

There followed the previously described partnerships culminating in the dramatic ending. Will's innings was uplifting. Calm, organised, with a plan, moving around the crease he scored from 23 of the 28 balls he faced driving Barnes for 4 to long off, then for 6 over mid wicket in over 28. Driving through cover & pulling consecutive boundaries off Brown in the next. Pulling Bulcock for 4 to backward square leg then for 6 over mid wicket. 

When Marsh returned he was indebted to a fine piece of fielding by Bulcock on the long off boundary who leapt high to prevent Will claiming another four. He reached his 50 from 27 balls in 38 minutes with 5x4 2x6 in over 35, (then the contentious 2), but sadly did not face another ball.

Always things to learn in pressure games, consistency of bowling lines & lengths to a well set field, shot selection in the moment, but after the emotion of the day we have to move on.

Fri 1st August SNCC v Burnopfield (a) 1800 Banks Salver 100 group F match 2

Sat 2nd August SNCC v Sunderland (h) 110o 1130, win/lose/draw

We hope you can be there to cheer the team on.

Duncan.