SAM EWART CENTURY NOT ENOUGH AS CHESTER WIN IN THE LAST OVER.

8th May 2025

          SAM EWART CENTURY NOT ENOUGH AS CHESTER WIN IN THE LAST OVER.

    NEPL Sunday Division 1: 4^th May 2025: SNCC Academy v CLS Academy (h) 40/40

SNCC Academy 219-9 (40o) Sam Ewart 116, Ben Hobbs 33, Jan Ozmen 11, Olly Alexander 11* Tom Oliver 10* Belinda Wewalage 10: Jacob Davie 1-41, Max Jackson 2-48, Harry Simpson 3-40, Brett Eagle 1-61, Liam Colledge 2-23, Liam Cook 0-5.

CLS Academy 220-5 (39.1o) Liam Cook 85, Luke Allen 27, Harry Simpson 35, Liam Colledge 30: Will Young 0-40, George McConnell 1-38, Tom Oliver 3-55, Jacques Graham 0-36, Olly Alexander 0-11, Sam Ewart 1-26, Will Oliver 0-5.

CLS won by 5 wickets -24 points, SNCC 12.

In the end a shame that a sparkling Sam Ewart century could not lead the Bulls Academy to victory against a strong CLS side who finally prevailed from the first ball of the 40^th over by 5 wickets.

A sunny day, SN chose to bat. The wicket was towards Moor Road North. Sam Ewart & Jan Ozmen, captain, faced the right arm seam of Davie (Grove) & Jackson (Park). A fast start, 2x6 to Sam, 3x4, 5 wides & a no ball in the first 4 overs, 39-0, Sam 25* Jan 6*.

But then 3 wickets in 4 overs as Jan (11) was very well caught by Eagle high at first slip off Davie, Will Carr (2) aiming to leg, got a leading edge which looped to cover off Jackson & George McConnell (2), aiming to pull Jackson, skied behind for w/k Allen to pouch, 57-3 after 10 overs.

A stand of 77 ensued between Sam & Ben Hobbs. Ben hit a straight 6 off Davie & the pair batted positively when Simpson's leg spin entered in over 14 & Eagle's rm in over15. Sam's 50 came up in the 16^th over (51b,5x4 2x6). The score had risen to 126-3 at drinks after 20 overs, Sam 70* (8x4, 2x6) Ben 32* (4x4 1x6).

Sadly Ben's innings ended in the 21st as he drove Eagle to cover, a valuable 33 (28b,4x4 1x6) which could have been more. Will Oliver (0), on debut, had the misfortune to time his drive too well, offering a catch to mid off in Colledge's second over, 139-5.

Sam's 100 came in the 27^th as Eagle's over went 2,4,6, dot, 4,4.  Eagle's next suffered similarly 4,4,no ball 2,4,1 as Belinda Wewalage joined in. In the next, advancing to Simpson's leg spin, Belinda (10) was stumped, 182-6 after 30 overs.

In Colledge's 5^th the 33rd over, at 192-6, Sam, completely in control, unexpectedly  attempted a scoop & was bowled. A magnificent innings of 116 (100b, 16x4, 3x6) driving through mid off, pulling, gliding or lofting on the leg side, such a shame for it to end with 45 balls still remaining.

Simpson then had Graham (8) lbw sweeping & two overs later Young (2) doing the same, 198-9 in the 36th. But to their immense credit, & on debut, U13 Olly Alexander (11*) & U15 Tom Oliver (10*) saw the Bulls to the close at 219-9, both striking boundaries.

In reply, Cook & Henderson faced the seam of Will Young (Grove) & George McConnell (Park). A tough, low chance to mid on from Henderson not taken from ball 5. 37-0 after 10 overs then Tom Oliver (lm) & Jacques Graham (sla) took up the attack. In over 13 Henderson (8) was bowled by Tom, 54-1. 

Allen joined Cook & the pair advanced the score to 84 in the 18^th when, having hit 1x6 in the previous Graham over, the left handed Allen skied towards mid on but the chance fell to earth with neither fielder claiming the catch.100-1 at drinks after 20 overs.

Sam Ewart (rm) began a spell from the Grove & in his second, Allen (27) pulled hard to deep square leg where Ben Hobbs took a well judged catch, falling forward, 111-2.  Cook continued in company with Simpson. In Sam's next a pull burst through the hands of Jan at cover. Regular boundaries kept the score moving. 

George returned from the Grove end in the 27th but suffered as Cook hit 3x4 straight, no deep set field to prevent the boundaries. Then to the batter's  amazement, his attempted pull was caught on the deep square leg boundary by Will Young. Cook (85, 95b, 13x4) a most valuable innings, 148-3 after 29 overs.

The powerful Colledge joined Simpson, Will Young & Tom Oliver rejoined the attack but the boundaries continued &, under pressure, some misfields took place. Overs 31-36 leaked 45 runs but in the 37^th at 205 Colledge (30, 26b 3x4 1x6) drove Tom hard to short extra where Sam held a good catch.  From the 5th ball of the same over Simpson (35, 47b, 5x4) skied to cover where Sam  again obliged, 5 down for 206. Tom 3-55 ended his 8 overs.

Three overs remained, 14 to win, Jackson & Beagle took 4 from the 38^th & 9, including  5 leg byes, from the 39th, Will Oliver's solitary over. A single from the first ball of the 40^th sealed the win for the Cestrians by 5 wickets.

A close game, against a good side with more experience, that the Bulls could have won. Positives in the batting of Sam & Ben, but please do not get out when on top, bowling & fielding in parts but energy & movement insufficient to prevent singles, some misfields under pressure, 3 chances spurned, 15 wides bowled; in close games these make the difference, so all to learn from & improve.

Onward to Sunday 18^th May, NEPL Sunday First Division- SNCC v Philadelphia (h) 1330 40/40.

Also the Banks Cup 3rd X1: SNCC v Whitburn (a) 20/20 before 6th June date tbc,

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

Duncan.