Bulls overcome Alnmouth and Lesbury in the Smithson County Cup 1/4 final

23rd Jun 2022

SNCC 167-3 (20o) James Ruddick 73, Tom Seymour 35, Oliver Young 46*: Nick Denton 0-22, Paul Straker 0-35, Robin Tudor 0-38,Ben Oliver 1-25, Harry Sutherland 1-29 Tom Robertson 2-17.

Alnmouth & Lesbury 158-5 (20o) Paul Straker 26, Archie Elder 29, Peter Smith 37*, Harry Sutherland 29, Tom Robertson 13: Will Harris 0-24, Ben Wollerton 0-23, Eashan Ragbir 3-30, Ru Fletcher 1-22, Tom Seymour 1-34, James Ruddick 0-19.

SNCC won by 9 runs.

After a rain shower the outfield was damp, SN won the toss & chose to bat. The ball skidded on as Tom Seymour & James Ruddick took advantage posting 54 by the 7 th when Tom, who had led the way (35, 24b, 5x4 1x6) was bowled by Oliver's medium pace. Oliver Young joined James & the pair advanced the score against both spin & seam with the w/k standing up.

74 after 10 overs the partnership had reached 89 for the second wicket before James, who had scored fluently through the offside, was bowled by T Robertson for 73 (53b, 11x4, 1x6), 143-2 in the 18th. Oliver continued to bat nicely, rotating the strike, running well & hitting the bad ball. Ru Fletcher (8) hit one 6 before being caught by Sutherland on the mid wicket boundary, 165-3 in the last over, Oliver finishing 46* (35b 4x4, 1x6). 23 added in the last two overs which was to prove crucial.

Remarkably the run rates in both innings turned out to be almost identical. Straker & Elder took advantage of some short pitched bowling to reach 46 in the 6 th before Straker (26) was adjudged caught behind by w/k Ewart off Ragbir's off spin. Two overs later, Elder's (29), pick up shot to fine leg off Fletcher, was very well caught by Wollerton, running in & diving. Tom Robertson (13) hit a full toss hard to cover off Ragbir, to be very well caught by Ruddick at head height, 75-3 in the 10th. Catches do win matches.

Burnett (4) was beaten in the flight by Ragbir in the 12th, 85-4 but still up with the rate. Ragbir 3-30 & Fletcher 1-22, had bowled well but Smith & Sutherland, both batting positively, produced a partnership of 79 for the 5 th wicket. Aided by some wides & one no ball, at the end of the 18th SNCC were 144-2, A&L 145-4. Will Harris's last over, the 19th, proved crucial going for only 6, despite an opening no ball. 17 to win from the last over.

Leg bye, 4, dot, wicket, from the 4th ball of the 20th, Tom Seymour's last, Sutherland (29, 24b 1x4) hit hard & high to long off where Ragbir took the important catch. Smith was left 37* (38b 5x4), only 7 conceded in the over, an entertaining game.

The semi-final date is to be confirmed. Gordon will advise.

Duncan.