HAILSHAM hosted Little Common, with the goal of maintaining top spot in the league with 30 points at the Recreation Ground.
Skipper Andrew Anthony lost the toss, and Hailsham were put into the field on a belter of a batting track.
Usual suspects Anthony and Bellett opened the bowling, but struggled to pin the Little Common openers down, with Crathern and Meredith getting off to a flyer, with the score 99/0 in the first 14 overs. It was the introduction of Ollie McDonald who made the breakthrough, trapping Meredith LBW for a well-made 61. This triggered a fantastic period of the game for Hailsham, as multiple wickets fell quickly, and Little Common fell to 129-7. A couple of excellent partnerships with some big hitting propelled the away side to 232-9 from their 45 overs, with Hailsham confident that this was under par, despite the excellent finish from the Ramblers.
Debutant Jason Tibble joined Ollie McDonald for a new look opening partnership, though you would never know. McDonald got off to a flyer, and Tibble followed suit shortly after, dispatching the ball to all parts. With the run rate hovering around 10 runs an over, Hailsham looked to assert their dominance, and showed no signs of letting up, with both openers reaching 50 in quick succession. However, Ollie fell shortly after, and this sparked a mini collapse from Hailsham, who slipped from 120-0, to 200-7. Tibble finished on a magnificent 70 on debut, but eventually holed out to mid-on. Nerves were hovering in the Hailsham camp, but a fantastic innings from Matt Dawber, and ably supported by Bellett, saw Hailsham home to a 3-wicket win, with 10 overs to spare.
The Choice Medics Man of the Match goes to the debutant Jason Tibble, for an excellent 70 that shot Hailsham into a dominant position.
The 2nd XI travelled to Bells Yew Green for week 7 of the SCL season, after winning the toss Lewis decided to bowl and gave the team his instructions before we entered the field of play. Unfortunately, the tone was set with the first ball of the game as it was dispatched for four and this tone continued for the next two and a half hours. Toby Tapp (101) and Tom Membrey (166) tucked in to some loose Hailsham bowling and short boundaries to reach superb yet contrasting 100’s. Hailsham bowled three or four good balls an over but always gave opportunities for boundaries to be scored each over. The pick of the bowlers was the returning Sam Mills who bowled with control, intelligence, and skill to finish with 1/37 from 7. The other wickets were shared between Tutt 1/59, Abraham 1/63 and Williams 2/73 as BYG finished their innings on a mammoth 392/6.
Hailsham had a clear plan in the chase, be positive, look to score and make sure we get maximum batting points. After 8 overs the chase was on as Hailsham had worked their way to 74/1. Fingerneissl (10) got a peach to be dismissed before Wilkinson (72) and Kevern (32) created a decent partnership. Shaun was given out LBW which lead to a flurry of middle order wickets as Hallett (4) Hobden (1) came and went quickly. Chatfield (27) and Abraham (38) made sure Hailsham secured maximum batting points with some lusty blows over the trees. When Wilkinson fell for 72 the final four batters put up little resistance and the game was finished with Hailsham all out for 240.
A disappointing day for the XI who need to have a look at what they are doing and how they are performing on Saturday’s and find ways to turn around a poor patch of form. The EF education man of the match went to Sam Mills for a beautiful spell of bowling on his return from university.
After last weeks nail biter, the 3’s were looking to continue their winning ways at home to Lewes St. Michaels.
It started on the right wrong foot, with Callum losing the toss (again) and being asked to bat, which he wanted to do anyway.
Hailsham started well after an impeccably observed minutes silence in memory of Harry Gent, with Gareth and Will hitting it to all parts of the ground. G was the main aggressor, comfortably reaching 50 before the first drinks break. Unfortunately drinks brought a wicket, with G looking to dispatch the Lewes captain on a full ball that ended with him being trapped in front of all 3 stumps. G walked off to applause and the highest score of the day, reaching 65 off not many.
Will (57) and Ethan (31) continued to go about their business, looking to put the team in a good position for a final few overs flurry, however when the team were ready to start teeing off, some tight bowling from the Lewes openers restricted them, resulting in 3 wickets for 4 runs in the space of 18 balls.
Dave BT managed to lift the Sham to a respectable 229-4 at the close of play with some intelligent, well struck 4’s, meaning Dave got to 41* off 20 something balls.
At the halfway stage Hailsham felt that they were in a good position and knew Lewes would have to have good intent from the start to keep up with the run rate.
Unfortunately, Lewes did exactly this, some poor fielding, field setting (besides Ethan again, fielding sessions anyone?) and unorthodox hitting meant Hailsham struggled to contain Lewes even though the majority of the team bowled well, with Lewes knocking off the runs 4 down in the 37th over.
Hailsham will look to bounce back next week with more authoritative batting and fielding, when they make the short trip to Alfriston.
The 3’s Sell Your Car Sussex player of the match goes to good bloke Gareth Morgans for his excellent 65 at the top of the order.
Hailsham CC 4th XI vs Linden park CC
This weekend saw the 4th XI travel to Groombridge to face Linden Park. Captain Kaleigh lost the toss and Hailsham were put into bat.
Opening up for Hailsham were usual suspects, Liam Fenwick (72) and Tim Mullins (38). It was looking to be an easy day as Liam and Tim extended the opening stand by 9 runs an over, every over until both were cut off by the Linden Park attack. In at 3 was Ralph Figgins (51*) and Ethan Hele (87*). Ralph was very sensible and waiting patiently and picking off the bad ball whilst Ethan was slamming even their good balls to the rope for 4. Bringing home 87 runs was an unbelievable achievement from Ethan and he even threw in a reverse sweep off middle stump for the travelling fans.
After lunch, the 4’s were thrown the ball and opening for Hailsham was Vishwas Sarvesha (0/32 off 4) and an outstanding spell from Bobby Williams (0/29 off 6 including 14 WIDES). Safe to say, these 2 did not come back on when taken off. Spells from Sam Andrews (1/31 off 7), Hari Bala (2/46 off 5), Joe Andrews (0/24 off 5) and Kaleigh Pavitt (1/6 off 1.3) were drawing Hailsham closer to the finish but not as fast as Tom Mills (5/36 off 8). Tom bowled superb line and length with some good turn here and there to grab himself 5 for the day.
Hailsham won by 50 runs!
The Leepy player of the match goes to Ethan Hele for a well-made unbeaten 87 and making it so entertaining for everyone along the way.
With the sounds of a sketchy Coldplay cover band ringing in their ears, Hailsham’s 5th XI took to the field against Eastbourne, hoping to seek redemption for their loss the week before. A positive start with humid conditions meant that Eastbourne’s openers found the edge more than the middle as the ball started to move a little and although Hailsham got a breakthrough after Maisie had their number 2 caught strangled down the leg side! Eastbourne then put on a huge chunk of runs with the ball doing absolutely nothing in the humid conditions. It took a beauty from John Dyer to dismiss the other Eastbourne opener before Haydon turned to the juniors to show the olds how it was done! Connie took a vital wicket of Eastbourne’s number 4 before Molly (Queen of Swing) Crosbie decided she wanted to get in on the action as well! Taking 2 wickets in as many overs, Eastbourne headed into the final over 5 down. With 3 balls left in the innings, Molly struck again, followed by a peach that trapped the Eastbourne captain LBW for a golden duck! On a hat trick and with the last ball of the innings, Haydon channelled his inner Stokes, with silly mid off and on both in the batsman’s eyeline. In came Molly and bowled a delivery that James Anderson would be proud of, swinging back in to hit the top of off stump, completing her hat trick and 5fer!
Jubilant, Hailsham openers Robin and Callum went out to begin their chase of 223. Starting positively, the boundaries were flowing, until Callum lost his off stump. Connie and Oliver followed without giving the scorers too much to worry about! Robin was still sticking around seemingly scoring boundaries at will until he decided to just not bother hitting the straight one from Eastbourne’s talented young leg spinner and was bowled for 87. Josh decided to do exactly the same, just having scored 86 less runs. Dinuka then attempted to repeat his feats of last weeks match before he swung too hard at a slower ball and was also bowled. Leading by example, captain Haydon was then bowled for a duck before John Dyer was undone by a contender for ball of the century, bowled round his legs á la Shane Warne! Maisie put up a brave fight but the young leggy was too good, while Hattrick Hero Molly decided she didn’t want to add centurion to her accomplishments and was the last out also bowled by the young Eastbourne talent. Hailsham ended all out for a spirited 143 falling short of their target but still with plenty to celebrate and reflect on.
GB Willow player of the match despite Robin’s best efforts has to go to Molly Crosbie for an incredible display of bowling that would not have looked out of place in far higher divisions!
