Last Saturday the 1st Xl had a frustrating day, as they travelled to play Bolney, a 100- minute car journey, only to find on arrival that there were no covers on the wicket. A downpour had turned the square into a swamp. After an hour’s contemplation, the umpires abandoned play, allowing the 1st Xl to return to watch the 2nd Xl.
At home the 2nd Xl were hosting Iden 1st Xl in a match sponsored by the Mermaid Inn. Despite the downpour in Rye, the covers had done their job and the game started on time. Rye batted first and made slow progress against a nagging attack. Spencer Fielding, 15 and Richard Mathews, 14 put on 40 for the first wicket. Freddie Mackenzie removed both openers and then Rye struggled losing wickets at regular intervals. Blake Rouse, 17 and Callum Haddaway, 13 recovered the innings to 127-7, but then Rye lost 3 wickets for 1 run to end on 128. Iden’s skipper Matt Barnet took 5 catches behind the stumps, a remarkable feat.
Matt Barnett then re-appeared as an opening bat, and Iden scored 16 off the first over. 31 scored off 4 overs, but then Rye applied the pressure. Ben Clifton dismissed his opposite skipper for 17. Martin Blincow took 2-13 off 8 overs, as Iden made slow but steady progress to 55-4, and 81-5. Surely it was Iden’s day? Ross Pierce 4-6 and Blake Rouse 2-22, brought a shuddering halt to the Iden innings as Iden slumped from 92-6 to 102 all out. The last 6 wickets all bowled.
This Saturday Rye 1sts host Lindfield 1sts at the Rye Cricket Salts in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, and the 2nds travel to Brighton to play St Peters 3rd Xl.
The 3rds on Saturday made it 3 wins in a row, this time against Division leaders Little Common Ramblers 3rd Xl. Rye batted first and made 187 -7 off 40 overs. Contributions from Jonathan Walczak, 20 and Samuel Bradnum, 35 laid the base to allow Paul Hitchcott to hit 50 off 36 balls.
In reply Little Common found runs hard to come by as they lost wickets at regular intervals. Brandon Easly, 47 and David Oughton, 24 offered any real threat. Paul Hitchcott 4-12 and Neil Archer 4-41 the main source of threat as Rye 3rds now sit 3rd in Division 12 with a game in hand. This Saturday the 3rds travel to Little Common.
A tough week for the Juniors as all four teams encountered defeat. The U13s lost to Ashford Town as did the U11a team. The U11b lost a close game to Tenterden U11b team, whilst the U16s lost a close game to Mersham U16s. Mathew Best with 35, showed his growing maturity with the bat for the U16s, but Mersham went past Rye’s total of 132-5 with 2 overs to spare.
Next week the U11a host Folkestone, the U11b travel to Ashford on Monday. Tuesday the U16s travel to Egerton and on Thursday the U13s travel to Tenterden.
Image Credits: Kt Bruce .