Cricketers go down but stay up

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Last Saturday the 1st Xl skipper Gary Willis lost the toss yet again and was inevitably invited to bat first. Rye made a positive start to a fixture to determine their fate. At 71-2 with Gandhi Tandoori Man Of the Match Neil Browne on 45 and Mark Cook on 25 the innings was full of promise. The opening bowlers had been seen off, and it seemed an intimidating target could be set on a wicket affected by overnight rain. However the change bowlers inflicted the mortal wounds to the Rye innings as Daniel Pellet’s 4-33 and James Pooley’s 5-23 extinguished the hopes of a positive outcome for Rye. None of the Rye batsmen could find the wherewithal to resist the onslaught as Rye were dismissed for 123 in 38.4 overs. This has been the story of the season and a lesson for 2015, to ensure the talent in the batting tail is fully applied.

In reply Hellingly struggled early on against the bowling of Craig Pierce, 2-37 and Gary Willis, 1-29. At 22-2 Hellingly were wobbling but Craig Devlin with 60 off just 79 balls then hit Rye out of the game. Every other batsmen had struggled but he found the measure of the wicket and the length of the boundary hitting 9 fours and a six. His demise and the introduction of Ben Clifton, 2-9 threatened an astonishing turn round, which only flickered for a short while as Hellingly rreached 124-6 and victory in 38.1 overs. If only Rye had scored another 30 or 40 runs the outcome might have been so very different. However the victory of Lewes Priory over Crawley condemned those two clubs to relegation and ensured Rye’s safety.

Rye seconds entertained Hellingly’s, but the opponents were only able to raise a team of nine 9 so skipper Martin Blincow took full advantage and asked Hellingly to bat. Hellingly’s Rippengal hit a quick fire 16, but it was to be the only angry fire of the afternoon. Gandhi Tandoori Man Of the Match Nick Paine settled into his rhythm and building on his late season good form worked away for 16 overs to return outstanding figures of 6-25, none of the Hellingly batsmen being able to counter the swing and the slow wicket. In 32 overs Hellingly were finally dismissed for 92, with Olly Rhys Jones and James Jury picking up the other wickets.

Rye’s reply was a stilted start as Derek Fraser perished in the first over for a duck attempting a highland fling! Ed Jury’s 17 and John Lovell’s 31 not out steadily inched along to 33-2. Then Ross Pierce came to the wicket to hit a breezy 35 as Rye raced past the 92 target in 30 overs, only for Pierce to fall when the scores were level. A double for Rye over Hellingly, who sit second in the Division 3 2nd Xl competition. Rye are sixth, but having lost only four fixtures the club has blooded a number of youngsters who have learnt and developed this season.

Next Saturday the 1st Xl host Lewes Priory, whilst the 2nd Xl make the reverse journey. The 3rd Xl host Mayfield 4th Xl at Northiam CC and the 4th Xl travel to Lewes St Michaels 3rd Xl. After these games on Saturday evening at 8pm Rye Cricket Club will be hosting its end of season Awards Evening with a bar, BBQ and presentations, and draws down another successful season at the Rye Cricket Salts.

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