For the second weekend in a row Rye Cricket Club recorded a hat trick of victories, as all three teams won, and the 1st XI moved to top of Division 5 East of the Sussex County League.
1st XI
Rye 141,
Hellingly 103
Rye entertained Hellingly 1st XI in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, which saw skipper Gary Willis lose the toss yet again, and so Rye batted first. Sandun Dias, the leading run scorer in the County League, continued his fine form by striking 88 off just 57 balls, 18 fours and one six. However none of the other Rye batsmen could match this, and once Dias had gone with the score on 108, the side slumped to 141 all out. Only James Hamilton (17) and Dan Seabrook (18) reached double figures. Daniel Pellet (5-25) and Adam Pye (3-42) did the damage for Hellingly.
The Rye wicket, of late, has been a batsmen paradise, but the green tinged wicket suggested something more of help this time for the bowlers. So it proved, but only after Hellingly reached 61-2. Then Dias (4-33) and Willis (2-15), tore into the Hellingly innings, and it was left to Harry Smeed (4-15) to finish it off. Steve Hook (25) top scored and only two other batsmen reached double figures. As results went Rye’s way, they now sit top of Division 5 East.
2nd XI
Rye 242 – 9
Buxted Park 183
The 2nds travelled to Buxted Park on Saturday with a number of players missing due to holidays, so Martin Blincow stood in as skipper. Rye lost the toss and were invited to bat first. Sacchin Jha returned from a mid season break, but fell early for 8, with the score on 41, as John Mackenzie began to make the most of a short boundary. Tim Morgan (67) joined John MacKenzie (119), to put together a 160 run partnership that was compiled in boundaries and hobbled singles as both experienced players had only 2 working hamstrings between them. When they both fell in quick succession to the returning opening bowler Luke Miles, Rye’s innings stuttered, as Luke Miles took 4-41 and Colin Coddington, 4-43, and Rye declared on 242-9 in the 52nd over.
Buxted Park’s response was led by Steve Harris (33), but Rye held a grip on the run rate by protecting the short boundary and good bowling by James Smeed (2-39), Martin Blincow 1-32 and Aaron Melrose 3-89 meant Rye tasted victory as Buxted Park reached 89-7. Miles (63) then threatened as he bludgeoned the short boundary. But the introduction of Ross Pierce (2-21) saw his demise and then 14 year old leg spinning debutant Rowan Sharkey finished the game off with 2-5, in part thanks to a wonderful one handed catch on the boundary by Smeed, as Buxted Park were dismissed for 183. Rye 2nds now move to 4th in Division 6 East of the County League.
3rd XI
Rye 238-6
Bexhill 5th XI 136
Rye third team travelled to Bexhill for their latest East Sussex Division 11 fixture and on losing the toss were asked to bat first.
An opening partnership of 102 between openers Paul Payton and Anthony Cousins got Rye off to a strong start before Payton was trapped LBW by Richard Melbourn (1-76) having scored 29. A second wicket partnership of 83 ended with Cousins being bowled, having scored 88, by Tony Stephen who finished with bowling figures of 2-53. Stuart Baker scored 13 before falling victim to Shahriar Alam (2-25) as Rye finished on 238-6 from their allotted 40 overs.
Bexhill started positively with an opening partnership of 41 before Nick Smith (35) was the first of Mike Stoneham’s wickets. From this point onwards wickets started to fall at more regular intervals. Dominic Carey having scored 16 became Nick Paine’s second wicket as he finished with figures of 2-20. Luke Warner-Melbourn scored 20 before being bowled by Alex Stone (1-14). Tony Stephen (26) was the last wicket to fall when 9-man Bexhill were dismissed for 136 in the 37th over as Mike Stoneham finished with bowling figures of 5-21 from 6.3 overs. Rye now sit 2nd in Division 11.
U15s
Rye 128
Folkestone 128
Rye U15s enjoyed a tied game against Folkestone u15s as both teams finished on 128. Luke Payton hit another half century and George Channon, bowled the final over, restricting Folkestone to 3 runs when 4 were needed to win.
This Saturday the 1st XI host Buxted Park in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, the 2nd XI travel to Burgess Hill, and the 3rd XI host Pevensey 2nd XI. This evening (Friday) the U15s host Capel from Surrey, who are on tour.On Monday the U11s travel to Mersham and on Tuesday the U15s host Folkestone.
Martin Blincow