TWOS SLIP TO DEFEATS AFTER HIGH SCORING LEAGUE & CUP GAMES

29th May 2018

SNCC 248-8dec (50.2o) Doig 69, BM Sidney -Wilmot 49, Caldwell 35, Skinner 23*, RD Sidney-Wilmot 21.

TYNEMOUTH 249-5 (47.3o) Armstrong 94, Lineham 59*, Fairley 34, Piper 30: Harbottle 2-47, Davidson 1-36, Doig 1-43, C Fletcher 1-33, Skinner 0-46, Ruddick 0-41

The Bulls chose to bat on a sunny day at Roseworth Terrace. Will Caldwell & captain Michael Harbottle faced the seam of Gourley & Dinning. The total had reached 46 when Harbottle was caught by Armstrong off Hallam for 9. At 78 Caldwell was taken by w/k Stenhouse off the spin of Robson for 35. At 3 Andrew Doig had enjoyed a prolific start taking 21 from his first 12 balls.

Ru Fletcher's  bad trot continued, bowled by Robson without scoring, 84-3 in the 19th. Doig & Ryan Sid then took the score to 139 in the 30th before Sid was bowled by Walton for 21. Doig followed at 153 for a well struck 69 ( 11x4, 1x6, 60 balls, 74 minutes). James Ruddick was bowled by Dinning for 11 at 166 & at 170 James Hutton suffered a similar fate to Walton for 12.

There followed a fine partnership of 77 between teenagers Ben Sidney -Wilmot (49, 6x4, 54 balls, 51 minutes) & Cam Skinner 23* which ended with Davison's c & b 247-8 in the 49th. The innings was declared one run later leaving Tynemouth 54 to get them.

Failing to breakthrough early Tynemouth had reached 69 before Piper was caught by Ben Sid (+) off Allan Davidson for 30. Armstrong continued to punish anything loose & had reached 49, & the total 84, when Dinning was snared at mid on for 5 by the wily Harbottle. Fairley joined Armstrong & scoring steadily, advanced the total to 153 when Fairley (34) was caught by Hutton off Cal Fletcher.

Lineham's breezy 59* was only interrupted when Armstrong was finally dismissed for a splendid 94 (10x4, 1x6, 123 balls, 160 minutes). Hallam (4) was lbw to Doig but Robson kept Lineham company as the visitors eased to a 5 wicket win in 47.3 overs.

6 points to the Bulls, no dropped catches but bowling penetration & accuracy lacking in defending a creditable 248.

Banks Bowl  2nd Round v Benwell Hill at Denton Bank Sunday 27th May.

BENWELL HILL 298-7 (40o) J Fletcher 140, F Frisken 29, S Asif 29: C Fletcher 3-68, West 2-58.

SNCC 256 ao (39.2o), Doig 54, Weetman 52, Ruddick 41, Caldwell 22, C fletcher 19, Skinner 7: Kilpatrick 3-46, Archbold 3-64, Jones 2-37, Wright 1-52.

As current holders of the Banks Bowl the Bulls were hoping to bounce back after Saturday's defeat but two dropped catches reprieved opener Fletcher when he was 18, total (69) & 34, total (86) & proved pivotal. The opener stroked his way to an outstanding 140 (16x4, 3x6, 121 balls, 129 minutes) to lay the backbone of a very substantial 298-7 in 40 overs.

Supported by Frisken & later Asif, all the bowlers were punished for variations in length & direction. 39 extras including 31 wides were unhelpful, 11 in the first three overs as the orange ball swung ! James Ruddick (0-21 in 6) & Cam Skinner (0-36 in 6) bowled steadily. Cal Fletcher's 3 wickets were important but expensive as the short leg side boundary was within easy reach. Under pressure some of the out fielding was of a high standard, Bobby Green excelled in the deep & James Ruddick caught a very well judged skier, running back over his shoulder at cover.

Facing a mountain & against a more experienced attack, SN began well & after Caldwell (22) was caught at 45-1, Doig & Weetman produced a sparkling partnership of attacking shots to take the score to 128 before Doig (54, 6x4, 1x6, 37 balls, 64 minutes), working to square leg found mid wicket. Sadly Weetman also succumbed at 142 edging to the w/k whilst forcing square off the back foot for 52 (5x4, 1x6, 43 balls, 52 minutes).

Harbottle (11), changing his mind, was lbw to Archbold & then Ruddick drove powerfully for an entertaining 41, such that after 30 overs SN were ahead by 1 on 208-5. Cal Fletcher(19) & Cam Skinner (17) kept some momentum but it became a bridge too far for as cameos from Green (9) & West (15) ended in the last over as Jones bowled West advancing. An honourable defeat by 42 runs which could have been so much tighter had the chances been taken & the bowling straighter.

All credit to Benwell Hill whose wicket was excellent contributing to a high scoring, entertaining cup tie.

Chester le Street next Saturday away, offers another chance to show the ability this team has. Let us embrace it please !

Duncan D. Stephen.