BULLS SLIP TO DEFEAT IN HIGH SCORING GAME AT BENWELL HILL.

19th Aug 2025

              BULLS SLIP TO DEFEAT IN HIGH SCORING GAME AT BENWELL HILL.

      Sat 16^th August 2025: NEPL Div 2: SNCC v Benwell Hill (a) 45/45o win/lose

Benwell Hill 244-8 (45o) Rohaan Aatif 117, Warren Poxon 45, Joe Fletcher 33: Allan Davidson 2-37, Will Young 1-47, George McConnell 0-25, Varun Gudipati 0-23, Archit Upadhye 3-51, Jacob McCord 0-41, Jacques Graham 1-12.

SNCC 223-9 (45o) George McConnell 58, Olly Alexander 30, Will Carr 11, Fraser Hall 25, Jacob McCord 13, Varun Gudipati 14, Jacques Graham 16, Will Young 12*: Warren Poxon 0-24, Mohammad Khaleed 2-52, Jake Robson 0-46, Safiun Diip 2-27, Peter Jones 2-21, Gabriel Mellor 1-12, Naveed Safi 1-19.

Benwell Hill won by 21 runs - 24 points, SNCC 7.

In the holiday season & post exam results, a young Bulls side gave further opportunities to George McConnell, Olly Alexander, Will Carr, Fraser Hall, Varun Gudipati, Archit Upadhye & Jacques Graham. Choosing to bowl on a good wicket at Denton Bank the early wicket of Robson (4) caught by Jacob at deep cover off Will Young presaged a significant partnership of 152 between Rohaan Aatif, Warren Poxon, who retired hurt & then Joe Fletcher.

Spells for Allan, Will, George, Varun, Jacob & Archit were unsuccessful in achieving a breakthrough, two chances were spurned, variations of length & line were punished, especially to the short legside boundary towards the car park. In the 31^st over Fletcher (33) edged a leg break from Archit to w/k Fraser Hall, standing up, who took a neat catch, 165-2.

At 196 in the 37^th Aatif (117, 112b, 12x4 3x6) was bowled by Archit attempting a reverse sweep. A hard-hitting innings giving the bowlers no room for waywardness. At 212 in the 39^th Safi (5) edged Archit & Fraser took another neat catch, 4 down.

Poxon (45, 71b, 5x4) had returned but at 225 in the 41^st over he pulled Jacques to mid wicket where Olly took the catch. At 230 in the 42^nd Ramin Aatif was run out by Jan's throw from cover to Fraser as he attempted an impossible single. Two overs later two wickets for Allan as Diip (6) was lbw to a full ball & 4 balls later Jones (2) was bowled playing an expansive heave, 238-8. The innings ended at 244 after the 45 overs, which included 20 wides!

In reply George McConnell & Jan Ozmen faced the seam of Warren Poxon & Mohammad Khaleed. At 17 in the third over George's optimism for a single to cover was misplaced, caused fatal hesitation & resulted in Jan being run out at the w/k's end. 

Putting that mishap behind him, George with Olly Alexander put together a commendable  partnership of 88 in 20 overs. George pulling the seamers to the short legside boundary & Olly sensibly rotating the strike. At 105 in the 23^rd over George (58, 63b, 6x4, 1x6) drove a return catch to off spinner Diip.

Olly (30, 78b, 4x4), who had batted with a maturity beyond his years, succumbed two runs later, bowled by Diip, 107-3. Will Carr (11,12b, 2x4) attempted a reverse sweep to the sla of Jones but edge to slip in the 28th. Two runs later Jacob (13, 12b 2x4) was caught at cover off Mellor, 136-5 in the 29th over.

A handy partnership of 34 ensued between Fraser Hall, cutting & sweeping nicely & Varun Gudipati until Fraser (25, 31b, 3x4) was bowled by Jones in the 37^th over, 170-6. Varun (14, 31b,1x4) sweeping fell lbw to Safi in the 40th at 183.

In the next over Jacques (16, 15b, 3x4) who had driven straight very well, drove again but found long on off the bowling of Khaleed, 195-8. Will Young was positive, driving & chipping over mid wicket for 4 but at 201 Allan (5) swung & was bowled by Khaleed, 9 down.

Archit 6* & Will 12* at the close, 21 runs shy of the Hill total. 30 extras including 17 wides were an assistance but a feeling that the Bulls might have got closer by targeting the right bowlers to attack.

SNCC now in third place in Division 2 on 314 points, two behind Ashington in second, both looking up at CLS with 396.

Onward to Sat 23^rd August NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Newcastle (h) 1200 45/45 win/lose

Sunday 24^th August Banks Bowl 100 finals day at South North - SNCC v Newcastle from 1030, CLS v Hetton Lyons from 1330, final from c 1630.

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

Duncan.