BULLS OVERCOME WHITBURN TO RETAIN SECOND PLACE IN DIVISION 2.

9th Sep 2025

        BULLS OVERCOME WHITBURN TO RETAIN SECOND PLACE IN DIVISION 2.

       Sat 30th August 2025: NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Whitburn (h) 45/45, win/lose.

Whitburn 146-7 (45o) Zac Smith 20, Paul Shields 30, Will Shields 26, Alex Mapstone 17*, Ian Elliot 16*: Gavin Paton 3-18, Nathan  Gough 0-30, Will Young 1-23, Ben Hobbs 0-33, James Lunn 2-25, Ru Fletcher 1-11.

SNCC 150-6 (29.4o) Nick Tomlinson 19, Sam Ewart 33, Angus Southern 16, Jacob McCord 25, Ru Fletcher 21, Gavin Paton 17*, Ben Sid 6* : Alex Mapstone 1-32, Matthew Muchall 1-23, Ian Elliot 1-44, Phil Shakespeare 1-19, Adam Sneller 2-31.

SNCC won by 4 wickets- 24 points Whitburn 3.

The Bulls won the toss & chose to bowl on an overcast day that threatened rain. P Shields &  Z Smith faced the seam of Paton & Gough. Only 20 runs in 10 overs as some inspired ground fielding from Ben H, Sam, Ben Sid, Angus & Will & accurate bowling kept the total in check. 

A similar tale as Will Young & Ben Hobbs took up the attack until at 53 in the 19^th Smith (20) drove to point where Nathan took the catch off Will; 68-1 at drinks after 22 overs. In the next Whelan (11) edged Ru Fletcher to w/k Sam Ewart standing up, 71-2. This became 73-3 in the 28^th when P Shields (30) lofted Lunny to mid off for Jacob to take the catch.

Lunny & Ru bowled well, 13 overs for only 22 runs & some more good fielding from Ben Sid & Will until Mallaby (8) was bowled by Lunny half forward, 93-4. Gavin rejoined the attack & in his third persuaded Shakespeare (0) to edge a drive to w/k Sam, 104-5.

After an uncertain start, Will Shields (26) had batted nicely driving through cover & straight until he was bowled by a Paton yorker, 113-6. Sneller (0) was lbw to Gav two balls later but Mapstone (17*) & Elliot (16*) swung merrilly taking 26 from the last three overs, ending on 146-7 after 45 overs.

In reply Tomlinson & Ewart faced the seam of Mapstone & Muchall. A fast start as both Nick & Sam struck 5 boundaries between them but Nick (19) drove to mid on where Elliot took a good low catch, 24 -1 in the 4^th over.

Nathan (5) was unlucky to be bowled as the ball rebounded off bat & shoulder to dislodge a bail, 43-2 in the 7th. Angus began with 2x4 then 2x2 off Mapstone but as Elliot & Shakespeare took up the attack the rate stayed at 6's as the total became 64 after 10 overs.

In the 11^th Sam (33, 32b 5x4)having taken 2 & 4, one ball later aimed to leg but skied to silly mid off for Shakespeare to take the caught & bowled. One over later Angus (16) was lbw to Elliot also aiming to leg, 75-4, frustrating to watch!

McCord took 3x4 from Elliot's 3rd over to point, long off & 3rd man & Fletcher cut for 4 but after 17.2 overs the rain came & a delay of 24 minutes ensued at104-4. Resuming at 1700 Sneller & Shakespeare continued with Jacob steering Sneller to fine leg & through extra cover for 4. 

Two balls later Jacob (25, 20b, 6x4) drove low to extra cover where Smith took a low catch, 121-5. Gavin joined Ru  but 4 runs later Ru (21) skied a pull to mid on off Sneller, 125-6: 11 runs & two wickets in 7 overs.

A heavy drizzle began in over 29 as Elliot leaked 13, Gavin cutting & driving straight. In the next, two more boundaries to mid off, Gav  & extra cover, Ben Sid saw the Bulls home at 150-6 after 29.4 overs.

A comfortable 4 wicket win in the end but a somewhat tortuous way to get there.

Onward to the penultimate Sat 6^th Sept SNCC v Gateshead Fell (a) 45/45 win/lose from 1200. We hope you can be there, amid Great North Run preparations, to cheer the team on.

Duncan.