Match Report 9 June 2007

Isfield v Lewes Priory III

Isfield won the toss and elected to field.

Lews priory III 213-7 (47 overs) 17 pts, Isfield 214-7 27 pts.

 

 

 A complaint by Steve Newham about the amount of squash in his mug set of an afternoon of tetchiness between the two sides which took the spotlight away from what was a very good game of cricket. As always it was a good toss to win and Jim Healey had no hesitation in inserting Priory, unaware of the storm to come.

 

Tight bowling by Chris Saunders and Martin Fellows restricted Priory to less than a hundred by drinks (25 overs), but the visitors had yet to lose a wicket. With the amount of bowling options restricted by absentees Jarvis and Richards, Healey was left scratching around for anyone who could partner Chris Saunders. Huw Williams bowled seam up for the first time and did very well but when Bob Smith came on from the top end all hell broke loose as the ball sped to all parts of the boundary. Not only that but it left Saunders fuming about the fact that he had to stay at the bottom end and bowl up the hill. Even the fact that he was now bowling with the wind, pointed out by the increasingly under-siege skipper, did nothing to assuage his indignation.

 

Priory captain Mike Bonsor and fellow opener Spruce? played a brilliantly paced innings as events threatened to spiral out of control, eventually sharing in a stand of over a hundred. When Spruce went, immediatley followed by his replacement being run out without facing a ball, the wheels, if not falling off, at least began to have slow punctures. Within a short space of time Isfield had regained some composure and the runs started to dry up as wickets fell. Saunders still running in after 18 overs and Huw Williams, this time with leg spin put the final breaks on. The visitors declared on 213-7 after 47 overs leaving an hour and twenty five minutes plus 20 overs to chase the target.

 

After tea, Newham survived a couple of shouts for a catch and LBW before launching a ferocious attack on the bowling. At the other end Healey moved on to 9 before giving his wicket away due to a lack on moral fibre, (caused by having to make the tea, forgetting to fill the urn with water and captaincy issues etc etc). (aaahhh - Ed). Huw Williams joined the Club Captain and took off from the previous week with effortless strikes to the boundary until he was caught in at least three minds by a wobbly straight one, and was bowled for 36. His partner though continued to play his trademark smear to cow corner but also uncharacteristically threw in intelligent pushes for ones.

 

The next batsman Smith came and then went and doesn't really deserve a mention at all. Mark Barrett pushed and sliced a few runs and after Newham had gone LBW for 72, he was joined by long-lost Russell Brocklehurst, who proceeded to smash the ball as if he had never been away. The bowling was still good  with the ball swinging but the rate was down to below 4 an over and with a few edges, the occasional 4 and the increasingly disputed wides, the target came into sight. Simon Bailey chipped one up just before the end to create some unnecessary tension but the winning runs were eventually hit by Russell with 9 balls remaining and 3 wickets in hand.

 

Beers were partaken in the Laughing Fish and a line was drawn under any controversy.

 

jh

MATCH BETWEEN						DATE						WEATHER		TYPE OF MATCH
ISFIELD	LEWES PRIORY III					9 JUNE 2007						MUGGY		LEAGUE
SCORES						TOSS WON BY						ISFIELD
LEWES PRIORY III	BATTED FIRST AND SCORED			213-7			RESULT
ISFIELD	REPLIED WITH			214-7			ISFIELD WON BY 3 WICKETS
NAME		HOW OUT	RUNS					O	M	R	W		C		RO	ST
J HEALEY		B	9					0	0	0	0		1		0	0
S NEWHAM		LBW	72					0	0	0	0		0		0	0
T KNIGHT		CT	8					0	0	0	0		0		0	0
H WILLIAMS		B	36					13	0	46	2		1		0	0
M FARLEY		CT	4					3	0	25	0		0		0	0
M BARRETT		B	12					0	0	0	0		0		0	0
R BROCKLEHURST		NOT OUT	19					4	0	31	0		0		0	0
S BAILEY		CT	8					0	0	0	0		1		0	0
C SAUNDERS		NOT OUT	1					18	1	66	3		0		0	0
J HALL		DNB						0	0	0	0		0		0	0
M FELLOWS		DNB						10	1	33	0		0		0	0