1s
After a flaccid display the previous week, Hailsham First XI travelled to Heathfield Park with very little expectation of any cricket taking place. After winning the toss, caretaker boss Varun Khullar, who is named VK for reasons unknown, elected to bat first.
Despite having to mentally deal with a delayed start, Pearce and Wilkinson strode to the wicket with great purpose and style. Rob in particular trotted elegantly towards the crease with excitement at his first league outing of the season. However, after the first few overs, the game was beginning to seem like quite the anti-climax. Despite donning the short-sleeved shirt to show off his gym work over the winter, Bobby Wilkinson struggled to pierce the field.
It was a shame that the partnership couldn’t portray their speed and agility as Bob teased the fielders hands all day long. Pearce was dismissed quickly after the first rain break before he could be accused of cheating like his compatriots down under, though he did stand there for a good few seconds after middling the “heebie-jeebies” out of the ball to first slip. Rob still plodding along, was joined by Azza Norwood(21) who caught up Wilkinson’s “mammoth” total in a matter of overs.
After Forlan had his time in the limelight, in came overseas player VK who looked to take the attack to the enemy, however he sadly failed, as the umpire told him where to go, much to the young boy’s surprise. This only left Ciaran Peacock to put his mark on the game. Despite putting on a bit of timber over the off season due to taking up some bad habits. He blasted a marvellous 9 not out, which Matt Dawber was delighted to see as the stocky boy smiled towards his role model. Sadly, the rain came and ended the match prematurely. Hailsham finest players then returned back to their home, where they could discuss the day with the enthusiastic second teamers.
2s
Hailsham welcomed Heathfield Park 2 XI on a bleak and cloudy afternoon. After losing the toss, hailsham were sent into bat. The opening pair of Stan Garbett (14) and James Bellett (28) got off to a positive start. Bellett in particular batted as well as Stan’s fresh trim was looking, waving in the breeze, an untamed stallion given a bat and told to let loose. Mark Renals (36) put his stamp on the game along with a hefty 19 from Mathew Ronald Dawber, Matts number one fan Ciaran Peacock was particularly impressed. From then on Hailsham suffered a collapse not dissimilar to the Egyptian economy in the 1880s although this time poor weather was to blame, not the imperial British powers blinded by their ideology. A small glimmer of hope appeared in the shape of Oliver McDonald whose 25 not out gave hope to the diminished and wet 2nd XI. However just as this young steed found his game the heavens opened and the downpour forced an early finish. A big shoutout to captain South Africa for supplying Dominoes as an efficient replacement for match teas.
3s
Hailsham 3rd XI welcomed local neighbours Chiddingly to Roebuck Park on Saturday for their first home game of the season. With the forecast looking bleak and the chances of getting a game in very low, Chiddingly won the toss and bowled. From the start Mark Beard (100*) looked on a different level to everyone else and went along his way from one glorious shot to another. Mark was well supported throughout the innings from Nick Brady (20) Lee Wigglesworth (39) Stewart Kennedy (43) and Scott Vidler (14*). Each who played their own part in allowing Hailsham to build an imposing total quickly and securely. When captain Harry Gent decided to declare with the score on 235-4 from 42 overs the heavens soon opened and would not stop for a good few hours. Hailsham were disappointed at not being able to push hard for victory but are extremely happy with the strong batting line up. The SPS man of the match could only go to one man who in his second game for Hailsham produced a memorable innings, Mark Beard.
4s
Hailsham won the toss and invited Rye to bat on a cloudy afternoon in Icklesham. Warren Downs and Sam Mills opened the bowling, and from the off, Rye struggled to get the ball away as they bowled tight lines and really put the pressure on. Warren struck first with a catch held by John Cole, and after 10 overs, Rye were 11/1. Jake Muller replaced Mills and started well as cousins looked to start playing some more expansive shots. Downs continued to bowl with pace and accuracy and quickly picked up wickets 2,3 and 4 and 5 with a great catch from Wayne Pettigrew! Cole replaced Muller from the far end and continued to add pressure. Downs came off after a super spell of 12 overs, and Sam Mills came back on. As it dried out, the batsman found some value on going aerial, Mckenzie who could have been out second ball made the most the chances and found his way to 50, when he was caught by Sully Hallet at gully off the bowling of Cole. Sully then got to bowl himself and found his line and gave the batsmen something else to think about. Downs came back on from the far end and picked up his sixth wicket and Bradley Aldridge was able to claim the last wicket with a sharp stumping from Nigel Anthony. Rye ended up on 146 all out off 46 overs.
After tea, and with regular opener Steve Bowden injured while fielding, Cole had to change the order round a little bit. Sam Mills offered to open with the skipper, which shows real character to volunteer! After the first wicket falling for 3, Nigel Anthony joined Cole in the middle and with the drizzle, it was hard work to get the opening bowlers away for much value. Seeing out the opener Mckenzie, led to a change, which enabled Nigel to play more aggressive shots, while Cole rotated the strike. At 10 overs, Hailsham were 23/1, and after this period of watchfulness, Nigel began to steadily increase and aside from a couple of top edges, the fifty partnership arrived, and then Nigel’s half century with some great running between the wickets. Bowling changes enabled some pressure to be put on Rye and to their credit they stuck at the task, the 100 partnership came up in the 26th over. And Nigel departed, caught for an excellent 79 in really difficult conditions. Wayne Pettigrew joined Cole in the middle and after a few trademark boundaries and quick running, the total was chased down in 35, with Pettigrew ending on 18* and Cole on 41*.
All in all a really good performance in tough conditions, with the fielding much improved from last week, with more catching sticking but still some room for improvement. The confidence is building within the squad and we get ready to go again next week. Special thanks to KP for coming out to umpire in the drizzle!
The Roots Gardening Man of the match is a straightforward shoot out between Nigel Anthony for his match winning knock of 79 and Warren for his 6/19… I’ll let twitter decide!!
