Rye entertained Iden from East Sussex League division two at the Salts last Saturday in a 45 over friendly match sponsored by’ My Sweet Old Etcetera’. It was the last of three pre-season warm up games for Rye before they start their Sussex County League division four campaign on Saturday 9 May at the Salts.
Rye won the toss and elected to bat first, on what turned out to be a very chilly spring day. Rye got off to a good start, with Dan Seabrook and James Hamilton setting a solid platform, before the former fell to Robin Mayes (2-37) for a well compiled 25 runs, including an excellent six over cover. Hamilton was then joined by Ben Clifton who again made a solid start playing some good shots in a well put together 23 before also falling to Mayes. At 79 for 2, Rye’s new overseas signing Kshemal Waingankar strode to the wicket and stroked the ball nicely around the ground, in a partnership of fifty for the third wicket with James Hamilton (44), before the latter fell to a well held catch on the boundary off Neil Pearce.
As the innings progressed, the pair of Waingankar and William Wheeler started to put the Iden attack to the sword, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground. It was a combination of excellent stroke play and generous fielding from the Iden side that enabled Rye to post 276 for 5 from their 45 overs. Waingankar scored an excellent 105 on his début for the club and Wheeler compiled a solid looking 43. Ed Avann picked up a couple of wickets in the final overs of the game to return useful figures of 2 for 9.
276 was always going to be a tough ask for the Iden side and it proved to be the case after they lost Phil Shanks (0) to the bowling of Gary Willis (9-4-22-1). Tom Rawstone, Ed Avann and Mathew Barnett all made starts but failed to kick on to challenge the Rye total. Some resistance was offered, with Paul Barnett (37) and Tom Waters (37) making useful contributions lower down the order, but it was too little too late, as Iden fell a long way short by 99 runs. The pick of the Rye bowlers were Waingankar (10-0-33-2) and Ben Clifton (6-3-22-2).
The victory brought to an end a good pre season where the club won two of its three games. It has to be said that things look in order for Rye, with batters scoring runs and bowlers hitting good areas and asking questions of the batters. The first eleven will be looking for a continuation of this form with the first league game at home to Keymer and Hassocks at the Salts.
This weekend the Sussex League gets underway. The 1st XI entertain Keymer & Hassocks at the Salts, 1pm start, sponsored by ‘My Sweet Old Etcetera’. The 2nd XI make the reverse trip. The 3rd XI entertain Gildredge, 2nd XI at Icklesham on the newly relocated artificial wicket. Then another busy week of fixtures, as on Sunday the Friendly XI are away to Burwarsh, Monday the U11a team are away to Kennington, and the U11b are home to Boughton. On Tuesday the Midweek XI are away to Marden, the U15s are away to Ashford Town. On Wednesday the T20 team entertain Buxted Park and finally on Thursday the U13s are away to Rolvenden.
Photo: Janet Tiltman