Rye Cricket Club faced off against local rivals Buxted Park in a great win for Rye cc that saw them go second in Division 5 East of The Sussex County League.
Rye lost the toss and were asked to bat, unsurprisingly, on a wicket that was very wet due to rain that had persisted for most of the week. They lost two wickets early on, Wathen and Hamilton falling in quick succession.
But Dias (40) and Thomson (27) scored valuable runs on a wicket that was offering plenty to a strong Buxted Park bowling line up but, when Dias fell with the score at 70-3, Rye needed another partnership. When Smeed came to the crease he took his time and picked up runs when he could, to compile a well made patient 47 to help Rye post a good score of 167 from their 45 overs. Buxted Park bowler Will Sheffield 3-27 was the stand out performer.
Rye felt confident that they had enough runs and it was just a case of bowling well and doing the basics right, and this would hopefully see them through to a first away win of the season.
Dias (1-19) got the ball rolling with his first wicket of the year and moments later he took a fantastic diving catch to remove the captain Rob Raymond to have Buxted reeling at 32-2.
A rebuild was needed and when Buxted moved the score on to 63, the game was even, but a collapse was round the corner as they then lost 6 wickets for 21 runs and that left them 84-8 with Wathen (3-29) and Willis (3-37) doing the damage. However with Buxted now on 129 the game was still on, but when Smeed was re-introduced he took the 9th wicket to finish with figures of 1-37. And two balls later Thomson wrapped up the game thanks to a great catch by Farrow, and he finished with figures of 2-10. Rye now play host to Cuckfield hoping to make it three wins in a row.
Seconds
Rye 2nds entertained Burgess Hill 2nds on Saturday in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn and the game was greatly influenced by the two inches of rain that had fallen during the week. The all important toss was lost and skipper Ben Clifton was faced with sharing the bad news.
Rye made a slow but resolute start as Sachin Jha (17) and Martin Duffield shared a 35 run opening partnership. Rye then stuttered as the ball softened, and the outfield prevented the ball rolling to the boundary. Only John Mackenzie (19) made headway, before Harry Rhys-Jones (32) hit out against the tight Burgess Hill bowling. Rye edged forward to be finally dismissed in the 45th over for 109. Robert Barnes (3-20) was the pick of the bowlers.
When Burgess Hill batted Nick Paine struck early. This only brought Akeem Ifill to the crease. He decided the only way to bat was brute force. He struck 58 off just 29 balls, and with Trowbridge (27) took Burgess Hill to 89-1. But the game then took a dramatic twist.
Martin Blincow took a sharp caught-and-bowled to remove Ifill and, with Ben Clifton at the other end, Burgess Hill were in a spin losing 6 wickets for 12 runs. However they limped past Rye’s 109, with Martin Blincow 3-28 and Ben Clifton 3-22 nearly bringing about a dramatic comeback.
Rye Thirds
Pevensey II 210-6 declared. Rye III 155-8
Rye third team travelled to Pevensey for their latest league fixture and on winning the toss asked the home side to bat first on a damp wicket.
Opening bowlers George Channon (1-26) and Luke Payton (1-24) made early break-throughs reducing Pevensey to 30-2. Charlie Owen (29) looked to steady the innings taking the score to 52-4 as Mike Stoneham claimed figures of 2-63. Chris Pedroza and Ian Swingler joined together in a partnership of 66 before the former fell to the bowling of Ole Jorgensen (1-32) having scored 43. Oliver Tingley scored 26 before being caught off the bowling of James Jury (1-20). Swingler finished unbeaten on 62 and Simon Palmer was not out on 20 with Pevensey declaring with four overs remaining.
After tea Rye got off to a steady start with both Tim Morgan (23) and Paul Payton (17) punishing any wayward bowling. Tony Cousins and Luke Payton then joined together and continued to attack the bowling where possible in a partnership of 69 which saw Rye requiring just under 100 from the last 20 overs. The dismissals in quick succession of Payton and Cousins for 48 and 24 respectively saw the Rye score to 121-4 with Palmer (3-27) and Swingler (2-21) doing the damage. Channon continued to increase the score before he was bowled with 21 to his name by Edward Fielding (2-34). Rye settled for a draw scoring 155-8, the other Pevensey wicket taker was James Matanle (1-31).
The Colts season has started, with the U15s recording victories over Egerton and Wye, both by 9 wickets. The U13s lost to Boughton, and the U11s lost by a small margin to Wye.
This Friday Colts coaching is from 6-7pm, for 5-13 year olds, including the All Stars Programme, and from 7-8pm for 14-17 year olds. This Friday is the Annual Quiz Night with BBQ.
On Saturday the 1st XI host Cuckfield 2nd XI in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, the 2nds travel to Hellingly and the 3rds host Robertsbridge Threes.
Next week the Colts teams have a free week in the League, but the U15s on Tuesday will be having a practice game among themselves, and on Wednesday the T20 team host Iden at 6pm.
Photo : Martin Blincow