Rye Cricket Club has secured its first piece of silverware in 2018, winning Sussex’s East Area Cricket Association (EACA) Indoor Cup.
The path to victory
Rye 1sts 94 for 4 vs Robertsbridge 2nds 65 for 6
Rye batting first lost a couple of early wickets but managed to pull off a decent score of 94 with James Hamilton (5), Ellis Hatter (32*), Mickey Toomey (7), Spencer Fielding (18*), Ollie Rhys Jones (1) and Tobias Farrow (8).
In reply, a solid start by Robertsbridge in the first few overs allowed them to reach 32 before the first wicket but good bowling by Rye’s Rhys Jones 1 for 14, Farrow 0 for 15, Toomey 0 for 17, Fielding 1 for 5 and Hatter 1 for 12 reduced Robertsbridge to 65 for 6.
Semi-final
Ashburnham 33 for 6 vs Rye 1sts 34 for 1
One change to the team, G Wathen arrived from work to replace S Fielding.
Ashburnham, still on a high from chasing down a big total of 114 to knock a strong Crowhurst Park side, were asked to bat first.
Rye struck in the first over with Wathen 1 for 4 and again in the 2nd over with the lightning pace of Rhys Jones 2 for 14. Rye’s 2nd pace bowler Farrow proved equally impossible to face with 1 for 5. Finally “king of swing” Toomey ended on figures of 1 for 6 reducing Ashburnham to 33 all out. In reply, Hamilton (6*), Hatter (5) and Toomey (7*), plus extras made short work of the target.
Final
Rye 1sts 114 for 4 vs Bodiam 86 for 5
Bodiam, having knocked Bexhill and Robertsbridge out in their previous games, asked Rye to bat first.
At first this seemed a good decision for Bodiam, a combination of tight bowling and a run out saw Rye 46 for 2 by the 7th over. However Hamilton (43), Farrow (29*) and Rhys Jones (25*) allowed Rye to produce a huge total of 114 for 4. In reply and with a daunting 115 to win M Barnett for Bodiam started the chase well with a 6 off the first ball from Wathen. Five good balls later at the end of the first over the score was 6 for 0.
Rhys Jones bowled a tight over of lightning pace. Some quick fielding claimed Barnett’s wicket with a sharp run out. Toomey 1 for 14, with a cracking swing ball bowled Paul Barnett for 24. Bodiam’s Ed Avann gritted in for 26 before being run out.
Farrow again produced lightning pace and accuracy with figures of 0 for 3 from his 3 overs, keeping Bodiam 28 shy of the target, Rye winning the final by 28 runs.
A big thank you to the scorers and to all the players who made Sunday possible.
February 4 will see Rye CC travel to Sussex University where we take on the Eastbourne Indoor Cup winners.
Photo: Spencer Fielding