SOUTHERN CENTURY IN VAIN AS WHITBURN WIN BANKS CUP TIE.
3rd July 2025
SOUTHERN CENTURY IN VAIN AS WHITBURN WIN BANKS CUP TIE.
3rd Jul 2025
SOUTHERN CENTURY IN VAIN AS WHITBURN WIN BANKS CUP TIE.
Wed 25th June 2025, NEPL Banks Cup Round 2: SNCC v Whitburn (a) 20/20
SNCC 173-2 (20o) Angus Southern 100*, Aadi Bethanabatla 25, Andrew Doig 24, George McConnell 21*: Huw Morgan 0-31, George Smith 0-32, Ethan McGill 0-30, Freddie Barnes 0-42, Zac Smith 2-22, Matthew Downey 0-13.
Whitburn 176-3 (19.2o) Matthew Downey 32, Dan Quinan 75*, Huw Morgan 37: Will Young 0-26, George McConnell 0-25, Tom Oliver 1-37, Andrew Doig 1-27, Zach Henderson 1-41.
Whitburn won by 7 wickets.
A warm evening, Whitburn chose to field. The Bulls complement was only 10. The wicket was closer to the Pavilion side as Angus Southern & Aadi Bethanabatla faced Huw Morgan & George Smith. An opening partnership of 94 in only 13.2 overs saw Angus hitting straight, cutting & launching over mid wicket & Aadi mostly stroking down the ground.
At 94 Aadi (25, 36b 1x4) chipped to cover off Zac Smith. Andrew Doig (24, 16b, 2x4, 1x6) pushed on & the pair ran well until at 142 in the 18th he was lbw to Zac Smith. George McConnell joined Angus & 31 runs were added 31 in the last two overs.
Angus reaching 100* with a single from the second ball of the 20th then George hit 6,4,2,1 to reach 21* (7b 1x4 2x6), Angus 100* (62b, 7x4, 6x6), an exhilarating display of clean striking.
In reply Downey & McGill faced Will Young & George McConnell. Only 10 fielders presents its own difficulties in the power play & subsequently, especially with a short boundary on one side.
At 55 two wickets went down as first Downey (32) was caught at long on by George in Andrew Doig's opening over & in the next McGill was neatly taken by Olly Alexander at mid on.
Behind the rate, 81-2 after 12 overs, but sadly Quinan & Morgan were able to take advantage of too much short of a length bowling, especially from Tom & Zach, such that the last 8 overs yielded 95 runs.
The 17th conceded 22 & then in the 18th Morgan (37) edged Zach to w/k Matthew Rathbone, 153-3. But Quinan continued to plunder, 13 from the 19th & 8 from the first two balls of the last over saw the hosts home by 7 wickets, 176-3.
Quinan (75*, 37b, 10x4 4x6) & Zac Smith 7*. 23 extras included 7 byes, 13 leg byes, 2 wides & 1no ball.
A shame Angus's 100* could not be defended. A full team & a fuller length yorker or wide of the off stump, vital in cup ties. We hope everyone bounces back when next they play, after another learning experience.
Duncan.