Match report 23 June 2007

Isfield v Heathfield Park II

Isfield won the toss and elected to field.

Heathfield 228-3 (40 overs) 17 points

Isfield 229-7 (46.1 overs) 23 points

Isfield won by 3 wickets.

ISFIELD FAIL TO LOSE

As Isfield closed in on victory on Saturday a flurry of aerial shots by Healey and Moose were dropped by the visitors defending a total of 228. Despite both batsmen agreeing that they were going to play sensibly a collective madness took over and they were only saved by some poor catching.

Earlier Healey had won the toss again after a thorough scientific testing of the coin. Despite losing Hall for a duck, brilliantly taken by Mark Farley at second slip off the bowling of Saunders, Selmeston aggressively pushed the score along. Back from a cycling injury, Lawrie Richards suffered most as anything dropped short was severely punished. He was replaced by Moose who shook off the effects of several decades of lager drinking and roared in with the wind behind him. Producing vicious bounce off a length, he discomfited the batsmen and took a wicket caught behind at the second attempt by stand-in keeper Healey, dragging his ageing limbs around behind the stumps like Quasimodo.

Huw Williams took a wicket with his leg-spin and could have had centurian Robertshaw (121 not out), caught behind but Healey spilt the difficult chance. At 40 overs Selmeston declared leaving Isfield with a run rate of 4.8 to achieve for victory.

A wonderful tea was provided by Mr and Mrs Barrett with some especially splendid scones.

Steve Newham and Emile Chasseaud set off in pursuit but the Club Captain was soon back in the hutch having only lasted 3 balls. Huw Williams attempted to win in as few overs as mathematically possible and would have succeeded if he hadn’t been caught off a leading edge for 28.

Chris Saunders batted like a man in a hurry, which he was, having won tickets to see the most famous soul singer in the world, (that no-one had actually heard of), making 33 in the amount of time that Healey took to put his pads on. It was only the next morning when looking at the scorebook that the skipper realised what the tireless bowler had contributed.

Russell looked like a man with a mission and set about the bowling with intent. His first four scoring shots all being boundaries. He was joined by Healey who just sat back and watched as he continued to his half century, although at times there was some loud verbal encouragement to run from the skipper.

Just as it looked like the finish line was fast approaching there was a clatter of wickets with first Russell then Mark Farley and Mark Barrett getting out. With the tension rising Moose came in and as earlier related Isfield got home streakily with two overs remaining.

A cracking game of cricket was followed by drinks in the Laughing Fish with relations between the teams being cordial. Russell bought a jug and Dave Williams had a theory about something or other.

Next week Firle 1^st eleven and the Tandoori Tiger.

MATCH BETWEEN

DATE

WEATHER

TYPE OF MATCH

ISFIELD

HEATHFIELD PARK II

23 JUNE 2007

THREATENING THUNDER

LEAGUE

SCORES

TOSS WON BY

ISFIELD

HEATHFIELD

BATTED FIRST AND SCORED

228-7

RESULT

ISFIELD WON BY 3 WKTS

17 PTS

ISFIELD

REPLIED WITH

229-7

23 PTS

NAME

HOW OUT

RUNS

S NEWHAM

E CHASSEAUD

H WILLIAMS

C SAUNDERS

R BROCKLEHURST

J HEALEY

M FARLEY

M BARRETT

M JARVIS

9.3

L RICHARDS

DNB

M FELLOWS

DNB