1s
Hailsham travelled to Battle following last week’s victory over Newick. Captain Tom Hicks won the toss and chose to field first. Hailsham didn’t start well and allowed Battle to get off to a flying start with openers Jim Philcox and and Jo Carthew both scoring 23. However once Varun Khullar (6-44) got the opening wicket of Carthew he got into his stride. He then took the next four wickets in a destructive spell of bowling that saw battle slip from 37-0 to 84-5. The Battle batsmen could not handle the pace and accuracy of Khullar who was well supported by Andy Anthony (1-24) who built pressure at the other end.
Both Khullar and Anthony bowled long spells and when they began to tire Hicks introduced Shibin Abraham (2-0) and Shankar Suganya (1-0) to finish off the innings. Abraham and Suganya took no time to clean up the Battle tail. Abraham taking two wickets in his first over followed by Suganya who took the final wicket which saw a sharp slip catch by Paul McDonald. Battle were bowled out for 107.
Hailsham’s chase of 107 began badly losing Scott Pearce (0) early however this brought together the steady pair of Rob Wilkinson (48) and Aaron Norwood (15) who quelled any hopes of a Battle victory putting on a partnership of 54 before Norwood was bowled chopping a short ball back onto his stumps off the bowling of David Baldock (1-20).
However Varun Khullar (27*) strode to the crease and followed up his earlier bowling effort by seeing Hailsham home to victory. Wilkinson unfortunately fell two short of 50 hitting a simple catch to mid on. Matt Dawber (12*) then came in to finish the match off in style blasting a massive boundary to win the game for Hailsham.
Hailsham’s IQ Builders Merchant man of the match was Rob Wilkinson whose 48 ensured there were no nervous moments during their run chase.
Hailsham are back at home next week against Little Common Ramblers.
2s
Hailsham 2nd XI hosted Lindon Park 3rd XI on a sunny afternoon at the recreation ground. With morale low, captain Clint Mooiman was looking for 30 points.
Hailsham won the toss and elected to bowl first. Clint Mooiman and James Bellett opened up, keeping the runs below the over count for 8 overs. With no wicket thus far a breakthrough was needed and it came in the shape of Matthew Anthony, (1/10) bowling out their opener on his third over. This lifted hailsham’s spirits still with a low run rate. Also first change was James Renals(0/20) keeping pressure on the batsmen rather than the fielding side. Both Ciaran Peacock (2/16) and Treloar (0/25) were up next to try to break into the batting line up. After this shake up and constant left and right hand field changes, young Oliver McDonald (1/21) wanted to prove his worth. Dismissing a batsmen with ease. Much to Oliver’s disbelief, Stuart Kennedy (0/19) joined the party, keeping pressure on the now frustrated batting side. James Bellett and Clint Mooiman finished the last few overs off keeping runs low to leave Linden Park with 172/8.
After a lovely tea Hailsham went out to bat with things looking up. Mark Renals and James Bellett started off for Hailsham. Mark started off quickly, taking no time to play himself in. Making a quick 72, he was dismissed when caught at gully. Mark was replaced by Ciaran Treloar, keeping a good pace with James batting steadily. Ciaran was replaced by Ciaran Peacock who ended the game with a scoop over the keeper for 4 allowing James to have 61*. Hailsham win. The Finance Planning Group man of the match goes to James Bellett for seeing the team home with an unbeaten 61, his first senior half century.
3s
Hailsham 3rd XI hosted Lewes St Michaels 2nds and you really didn’t want to blink. Home skipper Harry Gent won the toss and asked Lewes to bat first. Hailsham opener Diesel Hallett bowled both away opening batsmen – both times called for a front foot no ball! 2 straightforward dropped catches later Lewes were still without loss and maybe it was going to be a long afternoon in the field for Hailsham. Not a bit of it! The shambles was traditionally the place where blood and intestines ran through the streets. The slaughterhouse of yesteryear. Like lambs before lions, Lewes surrendered pitifully. 12-5! They limped to 41 all out off 16.4 overs. Diesel had 4, Ed Garbett at the other end took 3, Toby Funnell chipped in with 2 wickets and that was that after barely an hours play. Hailsham set about the completely inevitable task brightly with 10 off the first over. Despite the loss of both openers the target of 42 of the most routine runs was reached in no time. 3.30pm and the game was done and dusted. You had to feel sorry for Lewes and applaud them for putting a team together but this really wasn’t a match. Hailsham were the winners, as were the bar takings! Diesel gets the SPS man of the match for an excellent opening spell and a good catch low at point. Hailsham 30 points, Lewes 2.
4s
On a hot day in Pevensey, John Cole won the toss (again) and invited the home team to bat. Opening with Cole and Bradley Aldridge, Hailsham were able to put early pressure on Pevensey. Cole bolwed good lines while Jake muller replaced Aldridge, and he too bowled well, but the opener lewellyn Smith was beginning to take a liking to the far end bowling so a change of pace was brought in, in the form of Sully Hallet, and from the off it paid dividends with a chance coming in his second over. Warren Downs came on from the far end and struck in his second over, removing Pedroza for 14 and trunkfield for 0. Cole replaced Hallet from the pavilion end and between them really constricted the Pevensey batsmen, backed up with some excellent ground fielding, a real improvement on last week. Cole struck twice, once with the slower one, whilst downs claimed 7 wickets 5 clean bowled, one lbw and one catch from Bobby Williams. An excellent individual performance. And a very promising bowling debut from Ed Horrigan. So with Pevensey posting 173 off their 48 overs, Hailsham faced a chase that they knew was well within their grasp.
The reply started well, with Nigel Anthony and John Cole opening, with Hailsham putting the Opening bowler under immediate pressure with both playing their shots from the off, 15 off the first over. Cole was adjudged lbw for 9, and Wayne Pettigrew came out and started where he left off.. after 8 overs Hailsham were 55/1, Nigel was run out for 19. Sully joined Pettigrew and between them kept the board ticking over with some big hitting and clever singles which frustrated the Pevensey fielders. When Pettigrew was bowled for 37, Hailsham were 88/2 in the 19th over. Downs and Hallet continued and Hallet was caught for a well made 26. When downs was bowled for 22, there was little resistance afterwards, and Hailsham limped to 140 all out.
Quite simply, and it feels like I’m repeating myself, people need to value their wicket. We snatched defeat from the jaws of victory and will most likely not have a league game until 23rd June, in that time, batting practice is needed.
The Roots Gardening Man of the match, undoubtedly Warren Downs for 7/41 off 17 overs. Herculean effort!
