1st XI
Hailsham hosted Heathfield Park on an extremely hot afternoon, looking to bounce back from last weeks disappointing defeat and solidify their position at the top of the table. After losing the toss, captain Tom Hicks’ men were put into bat on a hard wicket.
James Walker (8) and Scott Pearce (62) opened the batting. Walker fell early, bringing the jumper wearing Aaron Norwood (39) to the crease earlier than planned. He and Scott Pearce rebuilt the innings. Norwood carefully constructed an innings, while Scott Pearce patiently waited for bad balls that found themselves immediately dispatched to the boundary. A partnership of 81 had helped to ‘steady the ship’ for Hailsham, before Scott Pearce fell for 62. Varun Khullar and Ciaran Peacock came and went for scores of 8 and 11 respectively before Aaron Norwood finally fell for a patient and vital 39. At 143-5 with many overs left, Hailsham still found themselves in a strong position. They failed to fully utilise their overs for a second week running, and lost the last five wickets for just 27 runs, leaving them 170 all out.
Hailsham knew that they were still in the game if they bowled well, but knew that early wickets would be vital. Varun Khullar (2-26) and Andrew Anthony (1-37) started well, bowling tight lines and taking an early wicket each that put Hailsham firmly in the game and left Heathfield 21-2. Terry Penfold (24) and Tom Sanderson (52no) stabilise the innings, before Shanka Bala had Penfold bowled. At 52-3 the game was all the play for. Ian Long (52) and Tom Sanderson defiantly batted on taking the score up to 149 before the 4th wicket fell. With nine men left on the field due to a number of injuries, and many overs left to bat, Heathfield eased home for a six wicket victory.
Hailsham must improved in all areas of the game next week, away to Newick, if they are to keep that top spot and continue to push for promotion. The IQ Builders Merchant Man of the Match goes to Scott Pearce for a brilliant 62 including 14 fours.
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2nd XI
Hailsham travelled to Heathfield Park looking to continue their good run of form. After losing the toss Hailsham were asked to bowl.
Diesel Hallett (4-30) and Matt Anthony (0-19) opened the bowling bowled tightly and kept the run rate down without taking a wicket before Ollie McDonald (1-44) and Andrew Swansbrough (1-17) took over with McDonald bowling opener Russ Varney (42) with the home side on 64-1. Swansbrough took the wicket of James Bentley, caught at mid-on by Matt Anthony, with the score at 82-2. James Renals (3-25) replaced Swansbrough and took the wicket of David Simmonds (2) caught and bowled with the score at 86-3. Some quick batting from Tom Frost (30) and Connor Davis (20) with James Bellett (1-32) replacing McDonald before Renals took the wickets of Frost, caught at mid-off by Rob Wilkinson, and Davis, caught at midwicket by Sully Hallett to leave the hosts on 128-5. Hallett returned taking the wickets of Dave Williams (6), caught by Matt Anthony at 3rd man, Adam Sugars (11) caught well by keeper Will Parsons, before trapping Richard Gill (27) lbw, with the hosts on 172-8. Bellett and Hallet bowled the two tail enders with the score on 176.
Rob Wilkinson (64*) and James Bellett (36) opened up for Hailsham and steadily built a base for the Hailsham chase before Bellett was bowled by Graham French (1-15) the pair putting on 61 for the first wicket. Tim Mullins (43) came in and continued the chase and the pair took their time building an innings with Mullins scoring at a faster rate than his companion, who would not be rushed. Mullins fell to the bowling of Adam Sugars (1-44), leaving the score at 139-2, bringing Mark Renals (18*) to the crease who picked up the pace while Wilkinson continued in the same vein as he had since the start. The pair saw out the run chase reaching the required total in the 43rd over.
The steady batting performance ensured Hailsham’s good form continued and clinched another 30 points for the team. The Finance Planning Group Man of the Match goes to Rob Wilkinson for his 64 not out.
3rd XI
Hailsham 3rd XI made the short trip to Chiddingly on a very hot afternoon. Chiddingly won the toss and put Hailsham into bat.
After a poor start for Hailsham Robin Sewell fell for 4, it wasn’t long until the next opener, Matt Dawber, fell for a score of 8. That then brought Sam Mills to the crease, the score slowly started to improve. A four then brought Mills to his 50, with the 3rd wicket partnership passing 100 Mills was caught for 82. John Bretteny then started to increase the run rate bringing up his 50 in the process. Hailsham finished their 40 overs with a score of 204-6, with Jason Wickham finishing on 19 not out.
After tea Hailsham bowled well with John Bretteny picking up the wickets of both openers. With a change of bowling Lewis Williams bowled very well bowling tight lines not allowing the batsmen to score, picking up figures of 5-25. With Hailsham bowling well they managed to restrict Chiddingly for 104. Their total could have been reduced even more if Amrit Jayan could of held onto his three dropped catches.
After a very good day from Hailsham, the SPS Man of the Match goes to Sam Mills for his clever batting to get his first fifty.
4th XI
Hailsham welcomed Rye on a hot afternoon at Roebuck, John Cole won the toss and invited Rye to bat. Opening with John Cole and Jake Muller, the openers were both under pressure with Cole picking up Dayton for 4, well caught by Fenton Webster on debut. Sharkey looked to punish anything wayward and with the surface offering good value for shots, he looked to attack Muller, who stuck with it and removed their number 3 lbw for 5 runs. McKenzie came out to bat, and Webster came on to bowl, claiming his first senior wicket by removing the dangerous sharkey for 24. Cole rotated the bowling attack and another debutant, Tom mills bowled a superb spell of 9 overs 2/37. Cole came back on an removed Mckenzie who was beginning to threaten for 33. Cole finished for 2/25 off his 9, which brought about the introduction of Warren Downs who off no run up immediately caused the Rye batsman difficulties. In six overs he picked up 2 wickets. Jake muller replaced the third debutant Freddie Lloyd who bowled some really good balls and was unlucky not to pick up a wicket, and when Muller got their captain caught, it brought about an end of the rye innings. The ground fielding from all was exceptional, the catching some exceptional – most noticeably being Harry Gent taking a screamer on the boundary, and some missed opportunities, with Rye ending on 170, probably 30 more than they should have got, but a chaseable total.
After a refreshing tea, Hailsham started the run chase and with Wayne Pettigrew and Tom Mills, and started well with Pettigrew looking to be timing the ball well, and Mills displaying great technique on debut. While there was certainly a lot of positivity, Pettigrew fell for 4, caught hitting a wide one that would normally have gone to another postcode. Warren came in and despite not being able to run, hit several boundaries around Roebuck, before being bowled by a dropping full toss. Webster showed good promise with a cracking boundary to start and was unlucky to fall shortly after put one behind to the keeper. Hailsham had gone from 56/1 to 66/3. Harry Gent joined Mills and the two looked to start rebuilding but Mills was caught for a well worked 31 – a superb effort on debut. Cian Murphy joined Gent, and unfortunately was run out for 5. Gent fell shortly afterwards adjudged lbw. Jake muller and John Cole again began the rebuilding effort, Cole was unfortunate to be caught off a deflection from the bowlers hand and departed for 4. Pete Mills fell shortly afterwards and Hailsham found themselves 106/7. Gavin Muller joined son Jake at the crease and between them, with solid shots, positive running looked to be on the brink of chasing the target, until Gavin was given lbw for 19. Jake fell shortly after for a battling 24 and Hailsham were all out for 151.
All in all some real positives to take, five juniors playing, three making their debuts and all showing a lot of promise for the future. Disappointing to lose, good to see everyone care about it. Another day and the same fixture could have easily resulted in a Hailsham victory, which we will look to get next week away at east dean.
The Roots Gardening Man of the Match this week is Tom mills, for his 31 and 2/37 with the ball.
