Rye lost some key players in the run up to this year’s knockout indoor competition which meant it was never going to be an easy task, however all the team played to the best of their abilities and had fun taking part.
Playing against Crowhurst Park, Rye openers Mark Cook, six runs, and Captain Harry Smeed, 11 runs, experienced good bowling from the off with the combination of slow bowler Windfield and the pace of Yodin Punja. Punja, a promising young bowler from the UAE currently working with Claremont School, from a short run up managed to produce some accurate sharp bowling to claim Cook’s wicket.
Ben Clifton scored six runs with some excellent runs to the walls before being run out by Windfield which brought brothers Craig and Ross Pierce, called into the side 90 minutes before the start, together. Both produced good shots before Craig attempted a run apparently thinking Usain Bolt was his batting partner, the result being Ross standing still and Craig was left to walk back to the changing room after scoring nine runs.
Nine runs were scored as Tobias Farrow got in on the action with some excellent scoring shots, which included the shot of the match with an elegant drive for six runs just before the end of the innings.
With Crowhurst Park needing 56 to win from 72 deliveries, openers Clive Tong and Colin Ayres were confident until a Craig Pierce delivery clean bowled Tong for five runs. With the score on 14 runs for one wicket after 18 deliveries, the game could have gone either way, however a quick-scoring Ayres with 29 runs backed up by Taylor and Punja, who both scored nine runs, saw their side home four balls into the eighth over, 60 for one.
Congratulations goes to Crowhurst Park who went on to be crowned cup winners beating Robertsbridge in the final by four wickets with two overs to spare.
A special thanks goes to Janet Tiltman for scoring.
Rye 55 for 6 off 11.5 overs lost to Crowhurst Park 60 for 1 off 8.4 overs
Photo: Janet Tiltman