BULLS OVERCOME CESTRIANS IN CLOSE ENCOUNTER.

16th Jul 2025

                        BULLS OVERCOME CESTRIANS IN CLOSE ENCOUNTER.

      Sat 12^th July 2025: NEPL Premier Division: SNCC v CLS (a) 110o, w/l/d

                        Wightman's 550^th NEPL wicket: Paton's superb spell:

                        Vital Peyton & Cragg partnership of 123 for 5^th wicket 

Chester-le-Street 203-8 (58o) Matthew Cranston 30, Callum Gaffney 28, Cole Pearce 30, Seb Hughes-Pinan 28, Brett Hutchinson23*: Jonny Wightman 3-48, Cody Hoffmeister 2-58, Gavin Paton 0-15, Oli McGee 3-56, Nathan Gough 0-20.

SNCC 204-6 (48.2o) Sol Bell 40, Rob Peyton 59, Adam Cragg 64*,Oli McGee 13*: Quentin Hughes 2-34, Brett Hutchinson 0-36, Mark Watson 2-27, Seb Hughes-Pinan 0-33, Josh Heslop 0-29, Cole Pearce 1-15, Callum Gaffney 1-19.

SNCC won by 4 wickets - 25 points, CLS 4.

A sunny day at Ropery Lane, the Bulls, in third, chose to field against second placed CLS. Wightman & Hoffmeister were faced by McCann (lh) & Cranston (rh). A steady start, 22 after 5 overs, but in the 6^th McCann (11) aiming to cut, played on to Hoffmeister, 28-1. At 55 in the 11^th Smith (16, 3x4) drove Jonny to Oli at mid on.

In the 12^th Gavin Paton started an 11 over spell from the houses end. With w/k Rob standing up, this was a superbly controlled piece of seam bowling, nibbling the ball either way, getting some bounce, with three maidens conceding only 15. 

At the other end Oli ended Cranston's innings of 30 at 80 in over 21, a skier very well caught by Will at long on & in his next Thompson (19) forward, edged to w/k Rob, 86-4 in the 23rd over. At the end of the 32nd over, with the total at 111-4, Wightman & Gough took up the attack.

Nathan was unlucky as a first ball edge towards second slip was interrupted by flying w/k Rob who could not cling on. In Jonny's second Gaffney (28) edged to Rob & in his next Q Hughes (0) was bowled, the classic Malingaesque, in swinging yorker taking out the experienced  left hander's middle stump, 126-6. Jonny's 550th NEPL wicket, 5th in the NEPL all time list above Stephen Humble on 547 & only 32 behind friend Matty Muchall in third.

The rate slowed, only 10 runs in 8 overs as Cole Pearce & Seb Hughes-Pinan consolidated. The steady stand had reached 162 in the 51st as Cody, Jonny & Oli sought a breakthrough, when Pearce (30) missed a reverse sweep & was adjudged lbw seemingly off a glove, 7 down. Hutchinson played some shots & in the 58^th & final over Seb Hughes-Pinan (28) was caught by Sol at mid wicket off Cody, Hutchinson 23*, 203-8.

In reply with 52 overs available, David Edwards & Sol Bell faced the off spin of Hughes & left arm seam of Hutchinson. Sol was in prime form taking 14 (3x4) off Hutchinson's first over. David (5) succumbed to Hughes's away drift in the 4^th over, driving but looping to cover, 28-1.

Sol continued to drive Hutchinson for 4 off the back foot either side of point but in the 10^th Watson's (rm) second, Will (4) edged an intended back foot force to Thompson at slip. In his next Sol, in delightful touch, (40, 37b, 7x4) inside edged & McCann (w/k) held a good reaction catch, low to his left, 54-3.

Hewi (6) edged Hughes's drift to slip in the 15^th 60-4. Cragg joined Peyton & in 30 overs the pair rescued the innings with an outstanding partnership of 123, 43 singles, 6x2, 12x4, 1x6, Rob  driving straight, through cover & over mid wicket, Adam sweeping conventionally & reversing, the pair running very well.

101 after 30 overs became 157 after 40 as Hughes-Pinan, Hughes, Watson & Heslop sought a breakthrough. Pearce (ob) & Gaffney (lm) entered the attack in overs 43 & 44 & in Pearce's second, Rob (59, 89b,117m, 6x4, 1x6) a splendid innings, drove to mid on, 183-5.

Nathan (2) drove a catch to bowler Gaffney in the 46th, 186-6. Enter Oli McGee who eased any nerves striking 6, 4, 2 off Gaffney in the 48^th to get the total to 200. Two twos to Craggy in the 49^th off Pearce gave the Bulls an outstanding victory, Adam 64* (99b, 120m, 7x4) another enterprising & decisive innings,  Oli 13* (15b, 1x4, 1x6), an ebullient cameo.

After 13 matches, the Bulls remain in third on 217 points behind CLS on 231 with undefeated Burnmoor top on 285.

Onward to T20 finals day Sun 13^th July SNCC v Burnopfield (at CLS) from 1330 with a final v Burnmoor or CLS at 1700. We hope you can be there.

Wed 16th July TCB ¼ final SNCC v Shotley Bridge (h) 1800 20/20

Sat 19th July NEPL Premier Div: SNCC v Burnmoor (h) 1130, 110o win/lose/draw.

Do come along, it should be exciting!!

Duncan.