Rye enjoyed an exciting weekend of cricket with two close defeats and a thumping victory.
Rye 1st XI retained top spot in Division 3 East, despite a four wicket defeat in the penultimate over of their match against local rivals Crowhurst Park, in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera. Rye batted first and posted 265-6 off 45 overs. James Hamilton led the way with 79, with contributions of 42 from both R Jackson Woodcock and Carl Mumba. On a hard day for bowlers, Nick Peters, 2-38 was the most successful of the Park bowlers.
Rye Cricket Club has taken on more responsibility for grounds maintenance and wicket preparation and the number of runs is evidence of the improvements.
Park were undaunted and chased down the target in the 44th over, six wickets down. Bradley Payne, 46, got Park off on the run chase and then support from Demari Bent, 61, and finally Clive Tong, 71 not out saw Park home. Rye’s bowlers struggled as well with Jackson Woodcock 2-46 and Carl Mumba 2-50. Rye’s weakness was a missing fifth bowler , with 81 runs coming off the nine overs shared between those bowlers.
Next week Rye travel to third place Buxted Park.
A much changed 2nd XI travelled to Firle 1sts. Rye lost the toss and were in the field. Initially Firle started in a blaze of shots from Chris Herriot for 30. His dismissal by Kyle Scott and the introduction of 15 year-old off spinner Joseph Kemsley halted the charge, especially when Kemsley took three wickets in an over. Youngster Johnny Broad making his 2nd team debut bowled well, and Rye chipped away as Martin Blincow took 3-16 off 7 overs, Kemsley 3-23 and Scott 2-24, as Firle were dismissed for 157.
The wicket throughout the game deteriorated and Rye’s batsmen were soon suffering against inconsistent bounce. Runs were coming but wickets were going. At 93-7 Kyle Scott, 66, was joined by Martin Blincow, 11 not out, and soon turned the tide. Runs came and they shared a 60 run partnership. But two wickets put nerves on edge. Rye crept to 155 when the last wicket fell. Frustrating, but Rye produced a good performance and sit fifth in Division 7 East. Next Saturday they host Seaford 2nds in a match sponsored by The Mermaid Inn.
The Thirds with only 10 men recorded a 10 wicket victory over Crowhurst Park 4ths. The bowling attack consisting of under 15s never let Park get away. James Archer, 3-23, and Tom O’Neill, 2-23,, made the early inroads, then Sam Fulllman, 2-23, and Toby Channon, 1-6, saw Park dismissed for 127. Rye in response knocked off the runs in just 15.2 overs as Ross Pierce hit 80 not out and Colin O’Neill 32 not out. Next Saturday the Thirds have a free week in the league.