Bulls defeated by a strong Felling performance

2nd May 2022

SNCC 123ao (34.4o) Rob Peyton 21, Adam Cragg 58: Travis Norris 4-28, Paul Leonard 3-20, Elliot Fox 2-22, Sebastian Allison 1-14.

Felling 124-3 (22.4o) Travis Norris 22, Joe Cracknell 42, Oliver Metcalfe 30* Eddie Hurst 13*: Jonny Wightman 2-53, Sean Tindale 0-31, Oli McGee 1-29, Lee Crozier 0-9.

Felling won by 7 wickets- 20 points; SNCC 1.

After the optimism generated by the win at Newcastle, this was a stark reminder of the levels that need to be attained as the Bulls were comprehensively defeated by a strong Felling side who bowled accurately, fielded well & batted with purpose.

SN welcomed back captain Adam Cragg, won the toss & chose to bat on a warm day. Sol (0) edged a drive to second slip from the second ball of the first over. Oli (8) was yorked by Fox in the 10th. Hewi (12) edged to first slip off Leonard, Sean (1) & Parth(0) were lbw to Leonard from consecutive deliveries in the 13th, 25-5.!

The tall Norris had begun a probing spell from the Park end, a nagging length drifting away from the right handers. At 45, Ru (11)played on & Rob (21), who had batted nicely, was bowled by Norris at 78; Gavin followed next ball caught by w/k Hurst, 78-8 in the 24th. In the 30th Jonny followed identically, 80-9.

A 10 th wicket partnership of 43 between Adam & Lee saw the score achieve some respectability. On one leg, Craggy smote Fox for 10 & Raza for 18 reaching a defiant 58 (6x4, 4x6, 48b) until skying an intended pick up, to be caught by Hurst, 123 all out in the 35th over.

The left-handed Norris & right-handed Cracknell opened up, Parth kept wicket. After a Sean maiden, in over 3, two boundaries were followed by a Cracknell edge which flew low & fast through the slips for 4 more. A little later, a direct hit, close run out call went in favour of the batsman. Cracknell was severe through the offside on anything remotely short.

At 62-0 in the 10th Norris (22) edged Oli to slip where Adam held a neat catch. Metcalfe swept his first ball for 4, a trademark shot. At 82 in the 14th, Cracknell (42, 7x4,1x6, 36b) was lbw to Jonny & in the 15th, Mustard (4) skied an intended pull to be caught by Craggy moving to square leg, also off Jonny, 93-3.

After Jonny's long spell of 9 overs, Lee took over at the Park & Sean returned at the Grove, but Metcalfe (30*) & Hurst (13*) were untroubled in reaching the target from the 4th ball of the 23rd over.

A sobering day, a reminder of the levels that need to be attained to be competitive in the 2022 NEPL Premier Division.

"Success is not final, failure is not fatal, it is the courage to continue that counts" Winston Churchill. 

We must regroup against Whitburn (h) on Sat 7th May. Onward mes amis!