BULLS UP TO SECOND AFTER EDWARDS CENTURY LEADS TO GOOD WIN AT WHITBURN.

18th Jun 2025

    BULLS UP TO SECOND AFTER EDWARDS CENTURY LEADS TO GOOD WIN AT WHITBURN.

     Sat 14^th June 2025: NEPL Div 2: SNCC v Whitburn (a) 105overs, w/l/d 

Whitburn 239 ao (54.5o) Paul Shields 93, Fin Hearn 69, Dan Quinan 20*: Ben Hobbs 0-12, Danny Collins 1-40, Tom Jones 4-64, Archit Upadhye 3-46, George McConnell 0-35, Joseph Dresser 1-32.

SNCC 240-8 (48.4o) David Edwards 103, Angus Southern 40, Jan Ozmen 10, Joseph Dresser 14*: Alex Mapstone 1-19, Phil Shakespear 2-45, Ethan McGill 0-28, Will Shields 0-6, Mark Elliott 3-65, Paul Shields 1-39.

SNCC won by 2 wickets- 26 points, Whitburn 7.

A hazy day, a damp outfield, the hosts were invited to bat. Paul Shields & Fin Hearn faced the seam of Ben Hobbs (rm) (scoreboard) returning from injury & Danny Collins (lm) (pavilion).

9 overs for 25, a good spell from Ben, but acceleration from the 10^th as Danny suffered & then Tom Jones (leg spin) & Joe Dresser entered the attack. A boundary an over as variations of length were punished saw the score rise to 96 after 20 overs. George McConnell (u17) & Archit Upadhye (u15) in tandem bowled overs 20 to 30.

Over 29 saw the first maiden bowled by Archit, & it was in the 31st at 148 that Hearn (69,98b, 12x4 1x6) swung Archit to deep square leg where Angus took the catch. Tom & Archit's leg spin tandem bowled overs 32 to 46. The wicket was dry & taking some slow turn.

At 164 in the 36^th Elliott (9) edged Tom to w/k Ben Sid, 2 down. 10 runs later Zac Smith (6) did the same. In the 40th. Paul Shields (93, 112b, 12x4, 1x6) had played a backbone innings, but at 196 he pulled Tom to Joe Dresser at deep mid wicket; next ball Parkin (0) prodding forward, was lbw to Tom, 5 down.

In his 14th consecutive over Archit bowled a double wicket maiden as first Mallaby (10) was bowled defending & 4 balls later Shakespeare (0) lbw.  Tom finished with 15-0-64-4 & one over later Archit concluded the longest spell he has ever bowled 15 -2-45-3, good control, conceding only 5x4, rewards at the end, bravo for an under 15!

Danny returned & in over 50 Will Shields (5) was run out courtesy of a direct hit to the bowler's stumps by Angus from mid off. In over 52 Mapstone (1) was caught by Angus off Danny at mid off, 216-9. Quinan (20*) & McGill pushed the score along. A rain delay paused proceedings but the final over saw McGill (11) caught by Jan at cover  off Joe Dresser, 239 all out. Some good catches but better ground fielding might have saved c 15 runs.

In reply David Edwards & Danny Collins faced the seam of Mapstone & Shakespeare. Mapstone was moving the ball in the air & a little off the wicket. In his second, Danny (5) mistimed to be caught & bowled, 17-1. In the10th Jan (10) edged to slip off Shakespeare, 36-2.

There followed a partnership of 123 between David & Angus. as they resisted the bowling of McGill, W Shields & Mark Elliott (ob). David driving straight or punching through the off side, Angus driving, cutting & exploring the legside. 96 after 20 overs became 158 in the 31st when Angus (40, 5x4 1x6) hit a Paul Shields full toss to mid wicket.

David struck a straight 6 in over 36 & in company with Andrew Doig took the total to 189 when Doig (8) was bowled by Elliott. In the next over Tom (8) was caught at mid wicket off Hearn,198-5.

David's enterprising innings (103, 90b,11x4 4x6) came to an end in over 41 as he aimed to leg off Elliott to be lbw, 206-6. Ben Sid took a boundary off Hearn but in the 44^th George (9) paddled to fine leg to be caught by P Shields & after hitting one boundary, Ben Hobbs (4) drove McGill to mid off, 228-8. Getting a tad tense perhaps.

Ben & Joe Dresser took singles & then in over 48 Joe pulled to mid wicket for 4 & in the next drove Elliott straight for 6 to win the game!! Ben 8*, Joe14* (1x4, 1x6), the importance of batting deep & remaining calm emphasised.

This win sees the 2's rise to second place in Division 2 on 167 points, behind leaders CLS on 222.  Encouraging roles played by young team members.

Onward to Sat 21st June NEPL Division 2: SNCC v Gateshead Fell (h) 1200 105 overs, win/lose/draw. We hope you can join us to cheer the team on.

Duncan.