Another close defeat for the Academicals

Another close defeat for the Academy X1 this week but once again the young guns shone brightly. Blaydon captain Sam Henderson, who had represented Blaydon 1st X1 in the previous two weeks but had special exemption from the NEPL to play, won the toss and decided to bat.
The under 14s were once again represented well in the team with opening bowlers swaddle-Scott and Perry bowling a very tight opening spell . Swaddle-Scott in particular impressed with figures of 5 overs 2 maidens 7 runs for 1 wicket. That wicket was Purvis who he bowled for only 3 runs. David Mohon came on first change and Henry Malton 2nd change and kept the Blaydon run rate under control as Burke and McCarthy from the visitors started to play themselves in. On a good pitch wickets were hard to come by but Malton in particular bowled tight and his figures of 8 overs for only 19 runs were impressive. Stalwart of the team Chad Koen came on to see if he could get a breakthrough and while he tolied away he wnet wicket less. In the meantime U13 Patrick Hallam came around the wicket to the left handed McCarthy and the change yielded immediate success with him holding out to deep mid-wicket caught by Sean Longstaff for 39 runs.
Although both Hallam and fellow U13 spinner Tugby bowled well the Blaydon batsmen started to accelerate and unfortunately Henderson hit the ball back at Hallam who missed the caught and bowled chance and worse still broke his thumb! Burke went on to record a century and ended up 101* and Henderson hit a quick fire 51* to post 221 for 2 from their 40 overs.

The Tynemouth innings got off to a steady start with openers Koen and Perry until Perry was caught behind for 2 off the bowling of Henderson. Koen was then joined by U13 batsman Joe Snowdon who has recently impressed with the bat for the Academy. Blaydon's bowlers bowled a very tight line and length and whilst Koen and Snowdon looked at ease the run rate was a little behind Blaydon's. Both batsmen however, grew in confidence and Snowdon , once again, showed maturity beyond his years comfortably dealing with whatever was bowled at him. Koen eventually departed for 48 runs leaving Sean Longstaff to enter the "show" Sean entertained his small band of fans/followers/hangers on with a blistering display of power hitting including a 6 off his first ball and a huge 6 into the golf course. Unfortunately the show came to an abrupt end when he was caught odd the bowling of Watson for 29 runs off 15 balls.
Snowdon also started to accelerate and was nearing his first senior half century when unfortunately he was bowled for 46 runs. However disappointed he was in narrowly missing out he was soon cheered up with a standing ovation from the spectators and his teammates.
determined not be be outshone by Longstaff, Captain Marvel Malton came in with his own power hitting display and struck 41 runs off 21 balls before being bowled on the last ball of the innings. The Academy fell short by 34 runs.