1st XI
On an unusually warm and pleasant day in the 2019 season, Hailsham took to the field looking to secure division four survival or at least keep it in their own hands. After losing the toss and being asked to bowl first, the opening bowlers did their part of the deal. Clint Mooiman was tight with his lines and enough movement to challenge the outside edge as he made the early break through (2-24) at the other end skipper Andrew Anthony was hitting the deck hard and beating the edge (1-38). The arrival of first change Varun Khullar (3-25), brought about a collapse that had Hailsham dreaming of victory. Keymer & Hassocks were soon 66-7 and in trouble. Although wicketless Shankar Bala bowled a lovely line & length throughout (0-23). A magnificently times and constructed innings from no.3 John Poole saved the day for the visitors, as he went through the gears with the tail, to finish on 76*. Tom McDonald took three wickets but also got some treatment towards the end as the away team posted 187-9.
In response Hailsham knew if they batted time then runs and a possible victory was achievable, that unfortunately is a problem now for most of the team. Rob Wilkinson (1) failed again at the top, before lots of starts but not the big innings Hailsham needed for victory. Tom Hicks (13), Aaron Norwood (24), Ciaran Peacock (22), Varun Khullar (18) and James McDonald (28*) who batted beautifully and is showing some strong end of season form. Unfortunately the tail was blown away by James Purtell and Hailsham limped to 144 all out.
The Freedom Leisure man of the match went to Varun Khullar for a fantastic spell of bowling taking figures of 3-25.
This leaves Hailsham with it in their own hands but still a worryingly nervous position, as they travel to Glynde & Beddingham next week.
2nd XI
Another new look 2nd XI side made the trip to Crowborough looking to take another 30 points from the opposition. Captain Steve Bowden won the toss and chose to bowl on a scorching afternoon.
Openers Matt Anthony (4-13) and Ed Garbett (3-10) took the game away from the opposition within the space of an hour as Crowborough slumped to 27-7 after 14 overs and the drinks interval. Shibin Abraham (0-12) bowled superbly and was simply to good for the Crowborough lower Order. He was well supported by debutant Ed Brook (0-20) who was replaced by Jogi Panwar (3-11) who removed the opposition’s no.5 for a battling 39 and picked up the final two wickets once Brad Aldridge (0-5) was introduced to the attack.
Hailsham had a well earned rest to have tea before Steve Bowden (18) and Will Parsons (4) got the chase underway. Parsons fell looking to find the boundary in similar fashion to a few balls before which brought Stewart Kennedy (18) to the crease who decided to demonstrate a textbook forward defensive on a delivery that happened to be a free hit before smashing a huge 6 a few overs later. Bowden and Kennedy fell in quick succession which led to Ed Brook (8*) and Jogi Panwar (6*) to see the game out with sensible batting.
The Daniel Grant Finance Planning Group Man of the Match goes to Matt Anthony for a destructive spell of bowling to remove Crowborough’s top order.
3rd XI
Hailsham 3rd XI welcomed Seaford 3rd XI to Roebuck Park on a glorious Saturday of the August Bank Holiday. After losing the toss, Hailsham were put into bat in the perfect conditions – a fine toss to lose. Openers, skipper Lewis Williams (5) and Tim Mullins (2) were dismissed fairly swiftly, leaving Hailsham 12-2. This brought Bobby Williams and Harry Chatfield to the crease, who looked to punish any wayward bowling from the Seaford attack. The partnership quickly built, with both batsmen looking more and more comfortable as the innings went on. Chatfield was first to reach his half-century with a well executed drive through the covers, with Williams reaching the milestone not long after. Bobby then looked to accelerate, hitting a few quick boundaries before being caught on 69. This was after the pair had brought Hailsham to 172 runs – a partnership of 160. Chatfield was then joined by Nick Wright (31), who increased the run rate further with some seriously aggressive shots. At the other end Chatfield slowed down slightly with some slightly more restrained batting, but did reach a century by dispatching a short ball for 6 behind mid-wicket – his maiden ton for the club. After Wright was caught, Andrew Swansbrough (5*) joined Chatfield at the crease to see out the innings. Hailsham finished on 231-4, with Chatfield scoring an unbeaten 104.
After tea, Hailsham took to the field to defend their total. Openers Alex Renals (0-15) and Tim Wright (4-25) gave nothing away in their opening spells, with Wright’s consistency being rewarded with 4 wickets – two excellent deliveries nipping back and clipping the off stump, and one courtesy of a fantastic Tim Mullins catch on the boundary, and one of four caught behind dismissals for keeper Phil Osborne. The good work of the opening bowlers was backed up by Hailsham’s change bowlers, with James Renals (0-30) and Nick Wright (1-15) coming into the attack. Wright in particular causing the batsmen all sorts of issues due to the cunning variation from delivery to delivery. Swansbrough (2-30) then joined the attack, taking a fantastic diving catch off his own bowling for one of the wickets. Finishing off the innings with the ball was debutant Joe Funnell (1-23), who looked very dangerous despite it being his first game back in cricket for a few years, and Tim Mullins (1-2) who delivered one of his trademark end-game spells.
This capped off an excellent team performance by the 3rd XI, leaving Seaford 146-9 from their 40 overs, with every single member making significant contribution towards the result. A result which secured promotion for the 3rd XI, and taking the title race with Polegate down to the last game of the season.
The Roots Gardening & Grounds Maintenance Ltd Man of the match goes to Harry Chatfield for leading the side to victory with his maiden century.
4th XI
The 4XI travelled to a very sunny and hot Wadhurst to meet Bells Yew Green. It wasn’t long before some made them selves at home whilst enjoying the sun.
Bells Yew Green won the toss and put themselves into bat. With our young guns bowling from either end Ethan Dean (0-15) and Harry Ball (2-22) they kept the run rate down with line and length bowling. Next came Kaleigh Pavitt (1-40) and Jake Muller (0-13) seeing the strong batsman Andrew Wotton (69) to his 50. Next change saw Matt Dawber (2-38) and Warren Downs (3-11) clear up a few more wickets, with a brilliant caught and bowled from Matt and superb field placement from Tommy Walder for him to take a catch too. This left Bells Yew Green on 154-8 at teas.
After teas the Welsh God, Nigel Anthony(9), and the legend, Wanye Pettigrew(10), opened the batting both being eliminated by Yash Gupta (4-14), whilst Adam Parker (0-15) kept it tight down the other end. Next brought in Gavin Muller (1) who looked like he was enjoying himself however he then feel for Yash’s trap too. This brought Warren Downs (41*) to the crease looking comfortable but not finding the middle. Ryan Meechan (0) was next who had been saying he was going to bat sensibly and try and hit the road, unfortunately his first ball would be his last with an LBW shout. Next up was Matt Dawber (9), with him normally our saviour we all had high hopes for him and Warren our there and with new bowling at both ends it was exciting to see, Freddie Read (2-33) crushed our hopes as he bowled Matt. Jake Muller (3) joined Warren in the middle to face Freddie and Simon Ellis (0-26), just like Matt Freddie got the better of Jake and bowled him out too. Ethan Dean (9) was next looking very strong and not bothered by the fielders all in close. Chris Fox (2-5) took the the bowling bowling a strong Ethan out. Kaleigh Pavitt (0) came to the crease looking strong at one end but getting run (limped) out by her partner Warren for a duck. Harry Ball (0) came to the crease wary of what Warren is capable of. Andrew Wotton (1-5) came to the other end unfortunately dismissing Harry, bowled. Tom Walder (1) stepped to the crease with Jake filling him with confidence he must have felt on top of the world. Unfortunately another LBW awarded to Chris Fox bowling Hailsham all out for 99.
The C Brook Fencing Man of the Match goes to Ethan Dean for anchoring a end and frustrating the opposition.
