Rye entertained Southwater in this Sussex Cricket League division 4 contest at the Salts on Saturday June 18, in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera. Rye skipper Gary Willis lost the toss and Southwater elected to bat first, on a wicket that looked very flat and good for batting despite the heavy rain the day before.
Rye struck early, dismissing both openers quickly to leave Southwater 12 for 2 . Gary Willis (1 for 21) and Craig Pierce (1 for 7) were the Rye bowlers who claimed the scalps. This then brought together Johann Brouwer and Jay Patel, who shared a partnership of 72 runs, constructed in a turgid fashion, as they grafted hard against the miserly Rye bowling attack. Patel (24) eventually fell to the bowling of George Watham (1 for 36) to leave Southwater 84 for 3. Nonetheless, Brouwer remained, as he passed 50 and added a further partnership of 35, with Matt de la Pole, in what was shaping up to be an excellent innings from the South African.
However, Brouwer (76) eventually fell to a superb catch on the boundary by Mickey Toomey off the bowling of Harry Smeed. This dismissal proved to be the hammer blow for Southwater, as they then succumbed to what can only be described as a cataclysmic collapse, inspired by some excellent Rye bowling and distinctly average batting. From 119 runs for 4 wickets, Southwater closed their innings on 129 runs all out, inside 48 overs. Smeed continued his purple patch, picking up 5 for 31 from 15 overs, ably supported by fellow spin twin Fin Thomson, who picked up 2 for 21 at the opposite end.
On such a good wicket, 129 was never likely to prove enough, given the strength of the Rye batting line up. However, Rye lost James Hamilton (11) early, playing a loose shot to the bowling of James Skett (1 for 13). Dan Seabrook set about establishing a partnership with overseas player Hugo Nel, to take the score to 56, before the former fell to the bowling of Paul Tillier (2 for 14) to leave the score 56 for 2. This then became 60 for 3 , as Nel fell to the same bowler for a well-made 24 runs.
The score then became 61 for 4, as Watham was removed for a duck and Rye were concerned that a collapse was on the cards. However, young guns Smeed (38 not out) and Fin Thomson (32) settled the ship, to take Rye to within touching distance of the finishing line, before Thomson fell with the score on 128 runs to the bowling of Alex Harding (1 for 22). Fittingly, Smeed then struck the winning runs, as Rye picked up a full 30 points in their second victory of the season.
It would be fair to say that this was a dominant display by the Rye side, as they appear to be hitting a run of form. They travel to second placed Glynde and Beddingham on Saturday June 25, in hope of picking up another 30 points in their push for promotion.
Rye 2nd XI travelled to table topping Burgess Hill last Saturday, as the bottom placed team in the league. Rye’s poor run of form has also coincided with the inability to call a coin toss correctly. Saturday saw a similar unlucky outcome and Rye were asked to bat on a wet wicket. As storm clouds grew over The Park at Burgess Hill, the worst was feared. However a ray of sunshine as Ellis Hatter (40) and Martin Duffield (31), shared an opening stand of 70 runs. But the sunshine was drying out the wicket, and the introduction of spin saw Rye falter, and only Spencer Fielding (17) and Tim Brownbill (17), could make any headway against the spin of Yates (5 for 21) and Maskell (5 for 41). Rye arrived at teatime 133 all out in 44 overs.
Rye made a fast start, as 16 year old Tom Gasson bowled well to take 1 for 21 off 7 overs, but it was the inevitable introduction of spin that turned the game. Ross Pierce struck first ball, long hop, brilliant one handed catch by 16 years old Giles Manning. Then Pierce and Ian Hopper began to dismantle the Burgess Hill innings, backed up by good Rye fielding. Aaron Barnes (21) top scored for Burgess Hill, as Hopper (5 for 23) mopped up the victory, supported by Pierce (4 for 33).
This Saturday, Rye 1sts go to Glynde, the 2nds host Glynde 2nds. The Colts will be hoping for better weather, as last week all games were washed out. On Monday the U11s host Mersham, on Tuesday the U15s go to Great Chart and on Thursday the U13s host Great Chart. Then on Friday July 1, it is the Rye Cricket Club Annual Bat & Trap Evening at The Salts.
Rye Cricket Club is also proud to announce it has secured sponsorship with Heringtons the Solicitors, who have offices in Rye, Battle, Hastings and Eastbourne. The sponsorship is in place for the next three years, and the picture is of Richard Fisher of Heringtons and Club Secretary Martin Blincow, with the new sign at the entrance to The Rye Cricket Salts.
Photos: Janet Tiltman & Martin Blincow