YOUNG BULLS BATTLE BUT SUCCUMB TO SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE.

22nd May 2025

       YOUNG BULLS BATTLE BUT SUCCUMB TO SENIOR CIVIL SERVICE.

                        Sat 17th May 2025; NTCL Division 5 Central.

                           SNCC 1864's v Civil Service CC (h) 40/40

SNCC 1864 196-8 (40o) Belinda Wewalage 11, Aadi Bethanabatla 73, Fraser Hall 56, Elliott Mee 16, Tom Oliver 15: John Colley 1-20, Prabhat Singh 3-45, Narendra Boyapati 0-33, Rakesh Sangisetty 0-21, Shravan Nallagoni 2-36, Sai Naveen Janjanam 0-27.

Civil Service 197-2 (29o) Rohit Saluja 86*, Mayank Yadav 75, Vined Palanti 12*: Zach Henderson 1-20, Tom Oliver 0-22, Elliott Mee 0-36, Leo Harper 0-27, David Cragg 0-24, Dominic Johnson 1-28, Jack Patterson 0-25, Olivia Miller 0-6.

Civil Service won by 8 wickets - 29 points, 1864's 6.

A battling display by a young team against older opponents featured an outstanding partnership of over 120 between Aadi Bethanabtla & Fraser Hall, a maiden 50 for Fraser & Aadi's highest SN score to date, his second 50 in three innings, & then coping with a strong breeze when bowling with short square boundaries, giving opportunities to 8 bowlers, taking two wickets & losing 3 balls!!

Led by Liv Miller, the 1864's won the toss & chose to bat. 25-3 after 8 overs as Jack Patterson (5) was bowled by a Colley yorker, Belinda Wewalage (11) edged to Joshi off Singh & Liv (2) mistimed to mid wicket, both off Singh's medium pace.

There followed a determined & skilful partnership of 120 between Aadi & Fraser. Aadi hitting straight or punching off the back foot through the offside & Fraser stroking past point, through the covers & pulling. The pair ran well & there were few chances.

During their partnership two fielders ran into each other attempting a catch with one left unconscious & an ambulance was called. In the midst of this Fraser's first aid training & rookie lifeguard experience helped greatly to ensure the wounded fielder was placed in the correct recovery position.

The ambulance appeared in 15 minutes, following treatment, the 1864 innings continued after 30 minutes. At 145 Fraser (56, 6x4) driving, was bowled by Nallagoni's off spin. His maiden 50, full of good shots, running well & with an appropriate composure. Aadi (73, 8x4,1x6) the 6, clearing the field, bouncing on the road & narrowly missing a passing car! was next to depart seeming to  misjudge the speed needed to get back for two & beaten at the w/k's end. An outstanding innings none the less, his powerful straight driving much in evidence.

Elliott Mee (15) drove pleasingly through the offside until, having pulled for 4, mistimed straight back to bowler Singh. Zach (7) was then caught off Nallagoni. Leo (3*) & Tom (15) scampered towards the end of the innings, Tom hit 1x4 1x6 & was run out off the last ball, 196-8 a very creditable batting effort.

In reply Civil Service lost Patil (1) in Zach Henderson's first over, edging to w/k Belinda. Saluja & Yadav pushed on, targeting the short legside boundaries. Zach 7 overs, Tom 4, Elliott 5, Leo 4, David 4 persisted but the score rose. The ground fielding was good, two chances went down & some seemingly good appeals were not upheld.

Towards the inevitable end Dominic (4 overs) bowled Yadav (75, 11x4 1x6) as he swung wildly & departed with what appeared to be a torn hamstring !  Bowling straight has its rewards!! Saluja (85*, 14x4, 1x6) & Palanti (12*) saw the visitors to victory after 29 overs as Jack Patterson & Liv bowled short spells.

A brave effort by a young side coping with a strong breeze & more experienced opponents.

Onward to Sat 24^th May SNCC 1864 v Newcastle (a) at a venue to be confirmed. We hope you can be thereto cheer the team on.

Duncan.