It was another good day for Rye Cricket Club on Saturday August 17 as they celebrated their third hat trick of this season, with all three teams recording thrilling victories.
Rye 1st XI v Eastbourne 2nd XI
Rye 1sts won a thrilling eight-run victory over Eastbourne 2nds on Saturday, to further cement their 3rd position in the Division 3 East League. Rye will now be looking to push on as their two remaining games are against the teams in the two relegation slots. On Saturday skipper Harry Smeed won the toss and decided to bat on the Saffrons wicket, one of Sussex’s out grounds. Rye built steadily, led by James Hamilton (47). The innings was then pushed along by Dan Seabrook with a well made 42. He was supported by Toomey (22), Luke Payton (26), and Tobias Farrow (28). Rye were heading for 200, but then Altaf Ahmad hit 20 off 7 balls including two huge sixes as Rye posted 228-7 off 45 overs.
Eastbourne’s innings made a stuttering start as Farrow took 2 early wickets. Then Eastbourne took the initiative, Fraser McHale (64) and Jordan Turner (43) threatened a victory. Martin Blincow with 2-43, removed both of them and Eastbourne faltered on 140-4. Rye’s bowling and fielding applied the pressure, as George Wathen (3-25), Farrow (3-30), took vital wickets and the runs dried up. Needing 18 off the last over, Altaf Ahmad tidied up the innings by hitting the wickets twice. Rye won a thrilling victory, and Mickey Toomey was given the Rye Concepts MOM award for his great work in the field and his innings.
Rye 2nd XI v Glynde 2nd XI
Rye 2nds entertained Glynde 2nds in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn. Rye won the toss and batted first. After two early wickets saw the innings falter, Craig Pierce (31) and Mark Cook (23) restored the momentum. The loss of Pierce on 54 brought Scott Balcomb to the wicket. He then set about the Glynde attack and hit a remarkable 111, with the ball disappearing over the straight boundary. Late support from Jake Bryant (19), saw Rye to 217-6.
Glynde started positively, led by Darren Howard (75), supported by Daniel Head (25). The game was in the balance. However Rye’s bowlers applied pressure to the run rate, as Craig Pierce (2-12), Bryant (2-49) and Ross Pierce (2-33), ensured Glynde could only reach 176-8. Rye now move into 6th position in Division 6 East, and only a win away from 3rd. A great achievement in a league of mainly 1st Xls.
Rye 3rd XI v Westfield 2nd XI
Rye third team hosted Westfield seconds for their latest league fixture and on winning the toss the visitors elected to field.
Westfield took early wickets reducing Rye to 31-3 through the bowling of Sam Jarvis (1-30) and Alvin Atkins (1-24). Iain Curry then took the wicket of Paul Payton (23) to claim figures of 2-16 reducing Rye to 45-4 in the 18th over. George Jempson and James Jury then looked to steady the innings and stop the flow of wickets. Jury then increased the run rate by hitting the boundary. The fifth wicket partnership of 105 ended when Jempson was dismissed by Andy Pearson (1-55). Jury finished on 75 not out as Rye reached 152-5 from their allotted overs.
Westfield got off to a positive start before the introduction of Toby Channon made the breakthrough with a mini collapse as he claimed figures of 4-35 from 6 overs including Henry Legg (24). Atkins continued to maintain the run rate before he fell victim to the bowling of Jempson (1-11 from 7 overs) having scored 20. Curry then joined Jarvis to steady the Westfield innings and take them towards the target, before both eventually fell victim to the bowling of Reece Martin (2-33) for 21 and 44 respectively. Westfield required six runs from the final two overs but tight bowling from George Jempson and Alex Stone saw the visitors fall two runs short on 151-9.
This Saturday Rye 1st XI host Crawley Eagles 1st XI in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, the 2nd XI travel to Tunbridge Wells Borderers 1st XI and the 3rd XI travel to Little Common Ramblers 3rd XI.
Image Credits: Rye C.C. .