BULLS BETTER BATTING NOT ENOUGH AS EXPERIENCE TELLS AT FELLING

4th Jun 2023

           Sat 10^th June 2023: NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Felling (a) 105o

SNCC 250-7 dec(51o) Alex Charnley 51, Angus Southern 31, Ru Fletcher 67*, Sadiq Khan 45: Calum Wright 2-32, Brad Lowery 0-57, Max Lowery 2-59, Anwar Dawlatzia 1-37, Sam Witherspoon 2-49.

Felling 251-4 (51o) Kieron Gilmour 85, Sam Witherspoon 34, Graham Wright 62, Joe Carroll 37*: Allan Davidson 0-23, Ben Hobbs 0-59, James Lunn 1-47, Sadiq Khan 2-57, George Gray 0-21 Nathan Gough 1-33.

Felling won by 6 wickets 25 points, SNCC 5.

A better batting display by the Bulls was not enough as one bad ball an over was punished by an experienced Felling team led by Graham Wright.

The Bulls were invited to bat on what turned out to be a slightly sticky surface with a short legside boundary towards High Heworth Lane.

Nick Tomlinson & Alex Charnley faced Calum Wright (lm) & Brad Lowery. At 36 Nick (13) saw a leading-edge fly to mid-on off Wright. A steady partnership of 57 in which Alex C had hit straight or through mid-wicket (51, 63b, 9x4) ended when he was also caught off a leading edge of Dawlatzia.

98-3 as Nathan (5) driving, lobbed to Rowell at mid-off, Witherspoon the bowler. At 114 Angus Southern (31, 64b, 6x4) a nice innings, played on to a yorker from Calum Wright & at 125 Will Alexander (8) hit Witherspoon to cover, 126-5.

A splendid partnership between Ru & Sadiq ensued. Playing with intent & having some fortune, the pair put on 89 before Sadiq (45, 41b,7x4, 1x6) was bowled by Max Lowery. Ru & James Lunn continued to prosper but at 246 Lunny (5) was caught at cover by Calum Wright off M Lowery, 246-7. The declaration came at 250 after 51overs leaving Felling 54 to bat. Ru 67* (61b, 7x4,3x6) a captain's innings.

Forster & Gilmour faced the seam of Allan & Ben, Ru kept wicket. The wicket may have flattened out a bit but sadly consistency was lacking & one ball an over went for runs. Gavin, on first team duty, was missed.

At 59 the lh Forster (14) chipped one back to James Lunn to be c & b. Witherspoon & Gilmour continued, Allan Davidson's ankle injury prevented further bowling & the total rose. At 134 Witherspoon (34) played on to Nathan Gough & at 147 Gilmour, a stalwart innings, (85, 110b, 13x4) was lbw sweeping Sadiq.

At 154 Rowell (0) was caught at mid-wicket by Alex C off Sadiq. 15 overs to go & the experienced Wright & Carroll pacing the innings expertly without alarms reached the target of 251 in the 51^st over, Graham Wright 62*(62b, 5x4,3x6) & Joe Carroll 37* (40b, 5x4).

A cautionary tale for the Bulls, to achieve consistency of performance with an effective balance of experience & youth is the challenge, we must continue to search for it.

Sat 10^th June 2023 NEPL Division 2, SNCC v Ashington (h) 105o, 1200 start, another tough test, we hope you can be there to support.

Duncan.