LYONS TAMED BY BULLS: SEAN TINDALE'S OUTSTANDING SPELL DECISIVE

11th Jun 2018

NEPL PREMIER DIVISION 8/22.

HETTON LYONS 118 all out (38.2o) R Talbot 24, C Martin 20: Sean Tindale 4-34, Richard Stanyon 2-6, Jonny Wightman 2-39, Michael Craigs 2-11.

SNCC 121-4 (28 o) Simon Birtwisle 23, Sam Dale 16, John Graham 27, Adam Cragg 39*: J Malkin 1-12, R Talbot 1-12, J Burnham 1-23, C Watson 1-20.

SNCC 22 points Hetton Lyons 1.

Asked to bat the Lyons were put under immediate pressure as Sean Tindale found an early rhythm from the Park end, Malkin(5) was bowled at 13 in the 3rd over, Walker(9) caught by w/k Rob Peyton, 18-2 in the 6th. Burnham & Martin rebuilt to 50 when Richard Stanyon had Burnham caught from his first ball, bounce & movement in, gloving a catch behind.

At 55 captain Jarvis Clay (1) was taken by w/k Peyton for 1 off Tindale, & two runs later Martin (20) suffered the same fate, 57-5 in the 21st, Tindale 3-19 from 10 unbroken, Stanyon 2-3 from 4, Peyton 4 catches as the bounce disconcerted. At 77 Whitehead (5) was also caught by Peyton off Tindale who finished an unbroken 15 over spell of quick, accurate bowling with 4-34, 'brilliant' was the verdict of our 10,000 run men! 77-6 in the 22nd.

Trevaskis's spin offered 'respite' but the return of Wightman & the introduction of Craigs from over 32 saw 4 wickets go down in 5 overs beginning with top scorer Talbot (24) bowled by Wightman at 106 in the 35th. Craigs had Ralston(4) lbw after facing 4 balls, 111-8, one run later Winn was bowled by Craigs for 17 & the last wicket went to Wightman in the 39th over as he bowled Watson for 2. A good performance against an in form team, only one point adrift at the start of play having won 4.

Openers Birtwisle & Dale faced Ralston & Burnham, quick but wayward. 7 x 4 in 7 overs saw the score at 42 in the 8th when Birty (23) was very well held in the gully by Grimwood off Burnham. At 48 in the 11th, Dale (16) was lbw to Talbot. At 53 Trevaskis(1) was taken by w/k Clay off Watson, 53-3 in the 14th.

Enter Adam Cragg who, with John Graham, rebuilt the innings as the Lyons who introduced the spin of Malkin, Whitehead & Grimwood to achieve a breakthrough. Malkin (1-12 in 6 with 3 maidens) achieved control & at 101 had Graham caught by Burnham for 27 (3x4,47 balls) important runs in just under an hour. Tindale joined Cragg & after a brace of twos, Craggy finished the match in style taking 12 from spinner Grimwood's second over, the 28th, finishing with a six! 39* (5x4, 1x6, 47 balls, 39 minutes).

22 points to 1 & a continued share of top spot with CLS who achieved the same in their victory over Stockton.

Sacriston (16/6) & Felling (23/6), both away, are the next two difficult games. We must continue !

Duncan D. Stephen.