First XI
Rye travelled to Keymer and Hassocks on Saturday with the hope of building upon the resounding success at Hellingly the week before. Upon arrival it was clear that the pitch was very dry and had been used previously, therefore Rye skipper Gary Willis was keen to bat first on a pitch that in all probability would deteriorate throughout the course of the afternoon. Unfortunately he was unable to win the toss and Rye were asked to take the field on a hot afternoon at Adastra Park.
As expected, Rye found it tough going in the early stages of the innings and a couple of dropped chances didn’t help matters. Rye didn’t pick up a wicket until the score had reached 83 with James Hamilton snapping up a sharp chance at slip off the bowling of Harry Smeed (1 for 51) dismissing Michael Johnson for 20. Fellow opener Alex Brackell proceeded to bat through the innings picking up a vast proportion of his runs through the third man region. The introduction of Craig Pierce (2 for 72) boosted Rye’s hopes of pegging Keymer and Hassocks to a score of less than 220, but despite his success in removing both Price (23) and Fairfax (30), Brackell continued to bat through working well in partnership with overseas pro Lee Pitavino who compiled an aggressive 52 from 38 balls. Although Gary Willis claimed the wicket of Brackell for 98, new man Joe Isted made a quick 25 not out, helping Keymer to post 270 for 4 from 48 overs.
At the mid innings break the feeling was that this was a score that would prove difficult to get given the deteriorating pitch. Rye’s innings got off to a poor start as man in form James Hamilton fell to the bowling of Michael Poole, caught at second slip playing an expansive drive. Will Wheeler joined Dan Seabrook as the pair compiled a partnership of 47 before Wheeler fell to the bowling of Pitavino (3 for 45). What followed was an all too familiar middle order collapse as a succession of batters came and went leaving Rye in a precarious position, finding themselves 126 for 6 and in danger of failing to achieve maximum bonus points.
At this stage of the innings Willis joined Seabrook who had run up a well made fifty. Willis continued his development as a batsman with a maiden first eleven fifty to follow his personal best score the week before. Between them the pair took the score to 186 before Seabrook fell for a well-made 79. Willis in partnership with Harry Smeed (24 not out) took Rye over the 200 mark and despite Willis being dismissed in the penultimate over, achieved a draw 9 wickets down finishing on 233.
All in all a decent effort by the Rye side with conditions working against them. Keymer and Hassocks conceded that perhaps they had batted on too long in the first innings; with more of an incentive Rye may have pushed harder to make the score, but 270 was always going to be challenging given the conditions.
Second XI
This has been a really roller coaster season for the 2nd XI, but on Saturday the seconds dominated from start to finish against Keymer & Hassocks seconds, despite yet again losing the toss, in this match sponsored by The Plough at Udimore.
Rye batted first and Pete Thomson (38) and Neale Hopper (22) got Rye off to a flying start, and once had both departed Ben Clifton strode to the crease and hit a chanceless and majestic 118 runs. He was supported by Mark Cook (21) as Rye raced past 100 in 13 overs and 200 in the 32nd over. Alasdair Bailey hit a rapid 39 and Rye declared on 300-7 in 47 overs. For Keymer, T.Morrisey (3-63) and R.Pithie (2-45) enjoyed some success.
Keymer’s task was daunting and made even more difficult as Ollie Rhys Jones struck with his first ball and took 2-8 off 7 overs, supported by Billy Blackford (1-41). For Keymer, E.Fairfax compiled a well hit 67 but he failed to find a partner as George Digweed found the target taking 4-43 with his wily spin, and though T.Morrissey hit 30 at the close of the innings, Clifton rounded off his day and the match by taking 2-12. The second win in a row for Rye 2nds took them off the bottom of the league. Immaterial really as the seconds is about developing players, and Saturday certainly was successful in that regard.
Third XI and Juniors
The Thirds also won, but without bowling a ball as opposition Newick Fourths conceded as they were unable to raise a team. It was also a good week for the Colts Section. The U13 defeated Primrose Hill, led by George Channon with 4 wickets and Luke Payton with 50 not out. The U11b team defeated Tenterden U11 off the last ball of the game, and the U15 defeated Tenterden with Giles Manning scoring 50 and Tom Gasson, 40, whilst Ben Fricker and Jack Keen picked up a couple of wickets each. The U17s had a walk over against Kennington. On Sunday the Parents v Kids match for the Loser’s Trophy was held with the kids winning the Loser’s Trophy. But the winner was Rye Cricket Club with nearly £700 being raised from a BBQ and Bar that was run for the game and for the Rye Runners Inaugural Relay Race. Over 150 people attended the event.
Next week the U11a host Wye on Monday, the U15s play Mersham B away on Tuesday and Kennington away on Wednesday. The U17s complete the league season on Thursday away to Mersham.