NATIONAL DEFEAT AT RICHMONDSHIRE FOR THE 1ST X1

14th May 2018

SNCC 124 ao (31.1overs) Birtwisle 33, Graham 36; McKiernan 3-8, Marshall 3-15.

RICHMONDSHIRE 125-6  (30.5overs) Layfield 47*, Pratt 17, Carr 15; Wightman 1-29, Tindale 1-21, Crozier 1-18, Birtwisle 1-21, Whitty 1-16, Craigs 1-11.

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The absence of Trevaskis & Cragg gave opportunities to Matthew Whitty & Andrew Doig as Michael Craigs also returned. Despite bright sunshine the wicket at Richmond had suffered overnight water damage at one end & a delayed start at 1530 was agreed with 32 overs /side. The roast Sunday lunch was taken before play, it was magnificent !!

SN were asked to bat. The first over contained three wides, one four & one wicket as Winter held a firm drive from Rob Peyton (4) on his follow through. After the 6 over power play, the introduction of leg spinner McKiernan proved pivotal. His figures read 4-2-5-1 as Sam Dale(15) chipped a caught & bowled, 36-2 in the 9th. Whitty (0) drove to extra cover off Dowson, 43-3, one over later.

Seamer West was expensive but Marshall's off breaks proved difficult to score from & the total had reached 85 when Birtwisle was adjudged lbw for 33 ( 56 balls, 3x4). Sean Tindale was unfortunate to play on next ball, his first, 85-5 in the 19th.

With John Graham playing a lone hand, wickets fell rapidly to the spinners, McKiernan returning to take 2-3 & Kelly 1-22 in 6 which included a 6, 5 wides & 4 leg byes of consecutive deliveries. With 9 down from the 29th over, at 124 , off the first ball of the last over, Graham was caught at deep mid wicket by Pratt for 36 (51 balls, 2x4, 1x6), going for a maximum. Marshall ended with 3-15. It didn't feel enough.

Carr & Pratt opened against the seam of Wightman & Tindale. Placing & running  well, the total had reached 27 in the 7th when Wightman bowled Carr. Layfield joined Pratt &, against the spin of Crozier & Birtwisle the two took the score to 47 until Pratt was adjudged caught down the leg side in Whitty's first over.

The dangerous McKiernan was bowled by Birtwisle for 5, 60-3 in the 17th, but Mather(8), very well caught by Graham at short mid wicket, Cowling(10), caught by Whitty also at mid wicket, & Winter(3), a very good c & b by Craigs, all ran well & kept the busy Layfield 47* (2x6 2x4) company as the score reached 108 -6 in the 29th.

 The returning overs from Wightman & Tindale went for a run a ball & Layfield's cover driven 4 off Craigs eased the tension. 4 singles then took the home side to victory by 4 wickets after 30.5 overs.

A disappointing day for the Bulls, rather outplayed by good spin, excellent fielding & positive running.

Lessons to be learned.

Author: Duncan Stephen