Rye moved closer to the promotion spots on Saturday (July 18) with a comprehensive 72 run victory over Wisborough Green in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera. Faced with a flat but dry wicket at the Salts, skipper Gary Willis won the toss and elected to bat first.
Opening pair James Hamiton and Dan Seabrook got Rye off to a good start putting on 30 for the first wicket before Seabrook fell to the bowling of James Rainford (1 for 41). Shortly after, Rye was dealt a further blow as Hamilton had to retire hurt with a migraine leaving Rye effectively 40 for 2. Nonetheless, this paved the way for Mark Cook and Kshemal Waingankar to punish some wayward Wisborough Green bowling in a partnership worth 133. Waingankar was particularly brutal on anything short, dispatching a number of deliveries through the on side.
By the time Cook was dismissed by Jack Carter for a well made 42, Rye was in the ascendancy and in a position to push on to maximum batting points. Hamilton returned to the crease to join Waingankar, but in the push for quick runs Hamilton fell to a well held catch at gully chasing a wide delivery for 19 off the bowling of Joel Colbran. Shortly after, Colbran also dismissed Waingankar for 89 to leave the Rye innings rocking on 177 for 5. However, both Mickey Toomey (18) and Harry Smeed (16) enabled Rye to move pass 200 and achieve maximum batting points to finish on 229 for 9 declared. Colbran finished with impressive figures of 4 for 23, ably supported by Jack Carter 2 for 36.
The Wisborough Green innings never really gained momentum as they struggled to deal with the impressive Rye bowling attack. Gary Willis removed James Self with his first delivery and Waingankar then removed his fellow opening partner with an excellent delivery that came back between bat and pad. Waingankar was particularly impressive early on, causing all manner of difficulties for the relatively inexperienced Wisborough batting line up.
Some resistance was offered by Nick Barron (25) before he was removed by Harry Smeed with his first delivery, a sharply spinning off break that came back to take middle stump. At 69 for 5 the Wisborough Green innings was showing signs of collapse but Martin Hopkins showed some class to make 45 not out, and in partnership with number 11 Jack Carter (25), the pair added 46 for the last wicket before Gary Willis (2 for 21) picked up Carter’s wicket with a sharp in-swinging delivery that rocked back middle stump.
All in all, Rye were impressive with the ball, Waingankar picked up 5 for 63 from 15 overs to take him top of the Sussex Premier league wicket chart. Harry Smeed also turned in a good spell of spin bowling showing sound control to finish with 3 for 35 from 8 overs.
Rye needed this win to keep its season on track. Rye currently sits 25 points below Slinfold who are in second place. The second promotion spot is still within Rye’s grasp with both Slinfold and Crawley (who sit in third) to play. Rye faces a big challenge on Saturday July 25 with a 180 mile round trip to fourth-from-bottom Stirlands in a game the team needs to win to keep the pressure on and establish momentum.
This Saturday (July 25) the 1st XI are off to Chichester to play Stirlands, the 2nd XI host Crawley Eagles in a match sponsored by The Steakhouse, whilst the 3rds travel to Ringmer 3rds.
The Colts League season is drawing to an end. The U11A team lost to Wye by 4 runs and will end the season mid table. The U13s completed a 100% winning season by defeating Tenterden and so won the League. The U15s lost narrowly to Kennington by 15 runs and will also finish mid table with a very young side. The U17s lost by 4 wickets to Boughton. With one game left against Mersham, victory will mean they win the U17 League.
Friday July 24 is the last coaching session and there is a barbecue and bar available for Club Members. The Colts now focus on the Sussex Junior Cricket Festival, with the U13s playing the week of August 10 with games against St Andrews, St James and Lewes Priory. The U16s play the week of August 17 against Bexhill, Lewes Priory, Hailsham and Fletching. These games all help with developing young players as games start at 2pm over 80 overs.