Rye played host to Lindfield in their first home game of the season, in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera. With captain Gary Willis losing the toss Rye were put into bat on a wicket that looked like there was something in it for the bowlers. They got off to a solid start and returning Sandun Dias hit the ball to all parts, racing to a well made 67 alongside Wathen (22) and putting on an opening stand of 87 in very quick time.
A flurry of wickets temporally left Rye struggling at 150-6 but Hatter (39) and Thomson (85* and continuing his brilliant start to the season) put on a fantastic partnership of 92 to take the game away from Lindfield, giving the team a fantastic score of 275-8 from their 45 overs.
Rye opening bowlers got off to a solid start containing the runs, and this brought about the first wicket with Pierce bowling Clark to get the ball rolling. But when the spinners where introduced the game just crumbled from underneath the Lindfield batsmen’s feet. Harry Smeed finishing with outstanding figures of 4-5, and Wathen with figures of 4-16 blew away the Lindfield batting line up and they crumbled to 100 all out. A mention must go to 14 year old Lindfield batsmen Thanvi Choudhary who was the only one to show some fight for Lindfield with a well made 27. Rye travel to Buxted Park tomorrow hoping to make it their first away victory of the season.
The 2nds made the short trip to Crowhurst Park on Saturday. Skipper Ben Clifton won the toss and invited The Park to bat. Crowhurst got off to a positive start as openers Lochead (46) and Messenger (36) shared a stand of 76. Rye then made inroads as Clifton took 3-40 and John Mackenzie (2-31) reduced The Park to 134-5. But Peters (80) and Taylor (41) took the score to 213-6. Rye ruing opportunities to dismiss Peters. Crowhurst finished on 236-7, and Rye felt pleased with a disciplined bowling display, conceding only 6 wides. Rye’s response was positive as Jha hit 34 and the side cruised to 71-1. But then self inflicted wounds undid the innings, as run outs, played on shots, saw Rye fall short of the target. Dismissed for 168 in the 45th over. For The Park, James Bunday with 3-28 was the pick of the bowlers.
Rye third team hosted Bexhill fifths for their first league game of the season in division 11 of the East Sussex Cricket League.
On losing the toss the home side were asked to bat first, making a reasonable start with Tim Morgan scoring 13 before being caught off the bowling of Shahriar Alam. Anthony Cousins and Pete Stonham then looked to steady the innings and punish any wayward bowling as they scored 38 and 28 respectively before both fell victim to the bowling of Ben Van Noort (2-25).
George Channon scored a quick 11 before he was bowled by Richard Melbourn (1-16), Oscar Goodsell (14) then looked to steady the innings yet keep increasing the score before he was bowled by Joel Cheshire (1-9). Mike Stoneham then looked to increase the total as the overs began to run out scoring 16 before being stumped on the final ball off the bowling of Alam (2-20). Rye completed their overs having scored 153, the other Bexhill wicket takers were Ian Harvey (1-10), Alastair Kent (1-38) and Carl Henningway (1-24).
After tea Rye made an early break through with opening bowler Mike Stoneham taking a wicket with his first ball and then taking another in his second over reducing Bexhill to 7-2. Nick Smith and Ian Harvey then steadied the innings with a partnership of 35 before the latter fell victim to the bowling of Goodsell having scored 21, this saw Bexhill’s score to 61-4.
Van Noort joined Smith and continued to increase the total before Smith was run out having scored 61. The return of Stoneham saw the dismissal of Van Noort (27) and Bexhill at 122-6, two further overs brought the score to 125-8 with 9 overs to go. Goodsell took the penultimate wicket of Joel Cheshire (17) with Bexhill needing two runs from two overs with one wicket in hand. The match went down to the final over with Bexhill requiring one run which was scored with three balls to spare. Mike Stoneham was the pick of the Rye bowlers claiming figures of 5-47 from 18 overs, well supported by Goodsell (3-41 from 13.3 overs). The final score: Rye III 153-9, Bexhill V 154-9
This week the Colts have been busy, the U13s were beaten by Boughton, whilst the U15s defeated Egerton, as Luke Payton hit an unbeaten 50.
This Saturday the 1st XI travel to Buxted Park, the 2nd XI host Burgess Hill in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn, whilst the 3rd XI travel to Pevensey.
On Monday the U11s host Wye, on Tuesday the U15s travel to Wye, and on Thursday the U13s host Wye.
Tonight Rye continues its Summer Coaching Programme. Already 50 young people have signed up, they will be joined by the new All Stars Cricket group for 5-8 year olds this evening. The club has a number of coaches working with young people to develop their cricketing skills. From 6-7pm it is for youngsters aged 5-13, and from 7-8pm for 14-17 year olds. Rye are offering a free taster session for any young person to try out the great game of cricket. Contact Martin Blincow on blincsfamily@aol.com for details.
Photo: Rye C.C.