BULLS BOUNCE BACK WITH COMFORTABLE WIN OVER SUNDERLAND.

11th Aug 2025

 BULLS BOUNCE BACK WITH COMFORTABLE WIN OVER SUNDERLAND.

 Sat 2nd Aug 2025: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Sunderland (h) 110o,w/l/d 1130.

SNCC 246-5 (49o) Sol Bell 36, Sam Ewart 41, George Drissell 63, Simon Birtwisle 68*, David Edwards 21: Jevin Rajapakse 1-47, Graeme Race 1-49, Hashmatullah Hemat 0-25, Kamran Said 2-74, Abdullah Razaqi 0-36, Shamsur Oraikhil 0-11.

Sunderland 161 ao ( 45.2o) Jevin Rajapakse 26, Rob Potts 33, Hashmatullah Hemat 34, Graeme Race 23: Cody Hoffmeister 1-25, Will Alexander 1-10, Ben Hobbs 0-15, George Drissell 3-31, Oli McGee 5-56, Gavin Paton 0-23.

SNCC won by 85 runs- 30 points, Sunderland 4.

Cup disappointments put to one side, the Bulls bounced back against bottom of the table Sunderland. In the absence of Rob Peyton, Adam Cragg & Jonny Wightman, Ben Hobbs made a 1^st X1 league debut, Sam Ewart was behind the stumps & Birty needed 71 to become the first batter to achieve the landmark of13000 Premier Division NEPL runs.

Choosing to bat on a pleasantly warm day, Sam Ewart & Sol Bell faced the seam of Rajapakse & Race. The gentle pace seemed to make timing difficult but the score rose from 34 after 10 overs to 77 after 18 as Said began a lengthy spell from the Park end.

In his second, a strong drive by Sam was diverted onto the bowler's stumps & Sol (36, 51b 6x4) was unluckily run out. In the next over Sam (41, 65b, 6x4) drove Race straight to mid on, 78-2.

Two overs later Chris (2) aiming a tad to leg saw a leading edge fly to wards mid off to be caught, 86-3 after 22 overs. George & Simon consolidated. There seemed no pace in the wicket which suited the slower bowling.  Rajapakse, Razaqi (sla) rotated as Said continued. Oraikhil's one over went for 11. At lunch after 37 overs the total was 157 George having reached 50* in that over striking 6 then 4, Simon 25*.

Rajapakse & Said continued after lunch. There were no alarms, the total rose to 186 in the 43rd when George (63, 69b, 6x4 1x6) swung Said to Applegarth in front of the Pavilion who took a good relay catch, tossing the ball in the air as he stepped over the boundary then regathering to complete the dismissal, 186-4.

David Edwards & Simon  pushed on, Simon reaching 50 in the 45^th as he dabbed & reversed boundaries off Said. David struck a maximum over long on from Said in the 47^th but perished 2 balls later caught at mid wicket,222-5.

Will joined Simon searching for that elusive 71. In the 48^th an apparent three behind the w/k was later deemed to be byes so Birty finished on 68* & needs just three to meet the 13000 run mark. In Race's last 15 were taken as Birty swept & pulled 4's & Will  swung a 6 to mid wicket. The declaration came after 49 overs at 246-5, Birty 68* Will 8*.

In reply Applegarth & Oraikhil faced the seam of Hoffmeister & Alexander. Success in over 3 as Cody comprehensively yorked Applegarth (3). In the next Oraikhil (5) edged Will low to 2^nd slip where George took a good catch without fuss, 12-2. $ maidens in the first 10 overs & three in the next 10 as Potts & Rajapakse resisted.

Ben Hobbs bowled a tidy 4 over spell for 15, George began a spell in over 13 & Oli in over 20. In that over Rajapakse (26) was bowled off stump by Oli, 54-3. Two more maidens & then in the 25^th Skilbeck (5) was lbw to Drissell 65-4.

Oli continued, Cody had two overs, then in the 30^th after another maiden,  Potts (33) who had used his feet to the spinners drove low to David at cover off Oli. Two overs later Nunn (6) surrounded by fielders inside edged off pad to silly mid on where Hewi took the catch. The umpires debated but the catch stood., 82-6.

Hemat was positive & Gavin suffered as 4x4 leaked from his first over to cover & mid wicket. 112-6 after 35 overs. Oli trapped Said (12) lbw on the back foot in the next & at tea the total was127-7.

George returned & in his first Gittins (9) was lbw. In the next Oli bowled Hemat 934) a sprightly innings, to claim his first league 5 fer in 2025.141-9. Race then swung George for 6's to square leg  until he was bowled by him in over 45 for 23 (2x6 1x4). Sunderland all out for 161. Five wickets for Oli, 3 for George one each for Cody & Will.

Simon still needs three.... there is a symmetry... in 2022 he scored his 12000^th run against next week's opponents Hetton Lyons !

Onward to Sat 9^th August: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v Hetton Lyons (a) 1130 110o win/lose /draw, the last one before the league reverts to win/lose, 90 overs from Sat  16^th August SNCC v Shotley Bridge (h) from 1200.

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

Duncan.