April Century Club Winners
24th April 2024
CHARITY BOWL SUCCESS AT MISTY TYNEMOUTH-DAVID CRAGG ROLLS BACK THE YEARS
31st May 2018
SNCC 164-5 (20o) Adam Cragg 51*, Alex Weetman 27, Andrew Doig 26, Simon Birtwisle 17, Sam Dale 14: Wes Bedja 2-27.
TYNEMOUTH 126-9 (20o) Barry Stewart 29, Wes Bedja 26*: Simon Birtwisle 3-13, David Cragg 3-13, Cam Skinner 1-15, Adam Cragg 1-15.
Electing to bat at Preston Avenue on a slightly overcast evening, the Bulls got off to a steady start as Weetman & Dale faced Hallam & Hymers. After lofting Hymers for a straight 6 Dale (14) mistimed to short third man where Smith took the catch, 27-1 in the 4th. Birtwisle joined Weetman &, after a reconnaissance, took 15 off 5 balls before being yorked by Bedja for 17.
Doig entered & kept the score ticking with singles, often to leg. At 78 Weetman skied to cover off Longstaff for a neat 27. Captain Cragg then struck 9 fours in 30 balls to give the innings real impetus. Doig (26) was caught by Smith off Robson at 136-4, an important 58 partnership.
Nathan Gough joined his Captain & scampered 5 before being c & b by Bedja at 158. Ben Sid had time to make his first 1st team run before the close at 164-5. Cragg 51*(9x4).
As current TCB holders, the Tynemouth reply saw Birtwisle & Craigs open against Dinning & Stewart. Always slightly behind the rate Birtwisle's second over, the 9th, accounted for Dinning & Longstaff from consecutive balls, both bowled, 41-2. Smith, reversing, followed lbw to Birty in his next over, 51-3. Stewart could make little of Wightman but it took the introduction of David Cragg to induce Stewart to play to his first ball. The celebrations involved the whole team !!
More was to follow, Hallam lofted Skinner to long on for 4, Cragg senior then had Robson caught at deep mid wicket by Sam Dale & next ball Adam Cragg took a flying catch at short extra cover off a firm Gourley drive. Outstanding ! DRC 3-13 off 2, welcome to SNCC 1st X1. Turner, stranded in mid pitch, was run out as Doig threw to w/k Ben Sid, 78-8 in the 16th.
In the middle of all this another remarkable piece of fielding saw Alex Weetman retreating at long off jumping high, palming the ball back, it would have been 6, collecting & throwing in, saving 5 runs, magnificent !
There was time for the Captain to take a wicket with his first ball in the 20th over, another skied catch taken without fuss by Michael Craigs at long on, before Bedja smote 14. The innings ended in thick mist at 2035. A Bulls win by 38. A Cragg family affair.
The next round is on Wed 20th June, opponents & venue not yet known. We continue.
Duncan D. Stephen.