1s
Hailsham 1st XI looked to carry on their good form and get back to winning ways following last weeks draw at home to East Dean and Friston CC. Having lost the toss, Hailsham captain Tom Hicks was told his team must bat first, something they had been intending to do anyway on a hard and flat pitch.
Bobby Wilkinson (2) and Scott Pearce (21) looked to carry on their good run of form and take an early advantage for Hailsham. Wilkinson fell early, however, bringing another inform batsman to the middle in the name of Aaron Norwood. Norwood and Pearce begun well, before Pearce fell for 21, leaving Hailsham in a precarious position at 33-2. Varun Khullar came to the middle and took the attack to the opposition, mixing attacking shots with sensible batting. Norwood and Khullar brought the score to 113 before Khullar edged behind. Further contributions from Ciaran ‘Matt Dawber’ Peacock (17), Tom Hicks (18) and Paul McDonald (14) brought Hailsham closer to a respectable score. There was some late hitting from Shibin Abraham (9) before Hailsham found themselves bowled out in the final over of the innings for 197.
After tea, Hailsham’s attempts at bowling East Dean out didn’t go to plan. Despite tight bowling from Khullar and Tom McDonald (0-23), Oly Ody (54) and Terry Preston (32) formed a good first wicket stand that reached 89 – before Terry Preston’s extremely scratchy 32 was caught by Aaron Norwood off the bowling of Shankar Bala. A flurry of wickets fell of thanks to tight bowling from Bala (3-40) and Shibin Abraham (1-16). At 143-5 with 10 overs left, the game was tightly poised. After a good start from the away team, they had put themselves in the best possible position to win the match, it was theirs to lose. The reintroduction of Varun Khullar (2-37) and Andrew Anthony (2-37) brought three more wickets, leaving the game going down to the last over. 16 runs to win for East Dean, two wickets to win for Hailsham. East Dean didn’t go for the win, and batted out for the draw, ending on 182-8 resulting in a draw. Hailsham, 16 points. East Dean, 17 points.
The IQ Builders Merchant man of the match goes to both Varun Khullar and Aaron Norwood for their efforts. The draw leaves Hailsham fourth in the table, with an away match to 2nd placed Ditchling next week.
2s
Hailsham 2s travelled to Alfriston to face their 1st XI. After losing the toss Hailsham were sent into bat. Mark Renals’ (6) dismissal from a salmon-esque catch at mid off was paired with yet another well played innings from James Bellett (27). A steadying 10 from Tim Mullins was assisted with a confident 29 from Ollie McDonald. Captain Will Parson’s posted a vital 28, which along with Clint Mooiman’s 16 elevated Hailsham to a defensible score of 158.
With the knowledge that a strong performance was their only hope of the 30 points. With Clint Mooiman (5-28) swiftly taking care of the first four batsmen. Matt Anthony (3-16) swung the ball effortlessly. Hailsham had reached a minor impass in the form of a mid-innings partnership. However, wanting to protect there currant form Hailsham banded together like a pack of well groomed hyenas. A breakthrough wicket from Diesel Hallett (1-37), variation from Ollie McDonald (0-23) and the closing wicket from James Bellett (1-25) left Aflriston just 18 runs short.
