The defeat of Rye CC’s 1st XI was hard because of the extraordinary nature of the game. The simple facts are that Rye were dismissed for just 43.
The first 5 batsmen were all dismissed for nought. The damage was done by Barbados U19 bowler Akeem Jordan who took 5-6 off 9.2 overs. He was supported by Richard Harris 2-14 and Tom Filby 2-12. Slinfold eased to the winning target losing 2 wickets to Craig Pierce 2-23.
Occasions like this are sometimes hard to comprehend. Essentially, it was an inexperienced side as holidays and work meant even younger players were in the firing line, but it was 17 year old Jo Lovell and Harry Smeed who made the major contributions with the bat and provided some stubborn resistance.
The wicket? Well this is a concern. The wicket has been reported by the umpires as being unacceptable because it offered too much seam and spin and offered very uneven bounce. An issue the club needs to follow up.
But it is moments like this when the club needs to focus on the 6 remaining games to ensure that everyone puts this behind them and focus on maximising the points to be gained from those remaining fixtures.
This week the 1st Xl travel to the outer edge of Sussex to Wisborough Green in their continuing education in the County League.