Hand sanitiser, ball cleaning and cricketers keeping their distance - the great game returns in East Sussex

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Battle Friendly XI v Battle Development XI

The players and supporters of Battle Cricket Club were delighted to be back playing cricket at George Meadow on Saturday with an internal club match.

Although junior and senior practice nets had been up and running for several weeks, this was an opportunity for Battle’s players to flex their limbs, smile and meet old and new friends and feel the outfield beneath their feet.

Risk assessments had been written and studied, and regulations put in place.

To some extent the result was unimportant. The team led by Jo Carthew compiled 234-6 with Guy Ballard, Colin Driscoll (having survived a couple of hostile overs from Ben Newman) and Rex Ffrench all passing 40 before retiring.

Pete Maynard struck well-timed shots before falling to the spin of Tim Dudgeon, and Steve Huggins made a healthy 27 not out. Leigh Tullett bowled a good spell of 1-26, Michael Dudgeon, Jim Butler, Jim Palmer and Kieran Dudgeon also struck.

In reply, Curtis Coombes’s XI had Newman blasting a rapid 41 while Palmer got to 49*. Jamie Faulkner made 21 before George Howard-Smith held a fine catch off the bowling of Roger Soan (2-18).

Despite 49 from Coombes which contained some lovely on-drives, the target looked just out of reach. Steady bowling in the form of 2-9 from Steve Huggins and 3-24 from Dave Lowes resulted in Coombes’ side finishing 17 short.

Fine fielding by Guy Ballard demonstrated that not everybody was rusty.

Battle CC welcome new players and supporters, young or old and everything in between with two Saturday sides, a friendly XI and a healthy junior section.

During lockdown, the club kept funds coming in and played its role in the community by organising and compiling a community cricket Food for a Sussex Summer. Details about it and the club, can be found at www.battlecc.play-cricket.com or by emailing [email protected]

Willingdon v Bexhill II

Bexhill seconds made the short trip to play Willingdon in a first friendly of the season.

Having elected to field first, Bexhill made a strong start through Byron Smith and Evan Gill to leave Willingdon 6-2.

Nick Tingley mounted the Willingdon fightback supported by Luke Nelson, who was caught behind off Elliott Parry, and Ryan Packham, bowled by Joel Cheshire, leaving them 90-4.

Dom Carey bowled Tingley for 50 then bowled Tom Strange (20) to leave the score 138-6.

Spin made an impact for Bexhill as Ben Phillimore had Shaun Page (12) caught by Paul Crittenden. Charlie Francis bowled Isaac Scott (8) before clean hitting from Michael Taylor (18) and Calum Brown (33) ensured the score reached 200.

In reply Bexhill started well with Gary Wicks and Ali Kent looking comfortable while playing imposing shots.

Kent fell for 12 but Phillimore played his shots, supporting Wicks, who reached 50.

Phillimore and Wicks looked like they would see Bexhill through, but Phillimore skied one to the keeper for 19. Captain Will Smith played the supporting role.

Smith fell to a good diving catch to leave the score 127-3. Dom Carey went at the Willingdon attack striking a quick 27 and Wicks brought up a magnificent hundred with a boundary.

When Carey fell with the score 186-4 Paul Crittenden (8*) found the boundary twice in four balls and it was left to Wicks to finish the game with a huge six, ending with a magnificent 126 not out from 120 balls as Bexhill won by six wickets.

Captain Smith thanked Willingdon everyone who got the game on and played it safely.

Hellingly III v Sidley

More than three months later than planned, Sidley CC began their 2020 outdoor season on Saturday.

Sidley have a number of friendly matches arranged for the second half of the summer.

The first was an enjoyable and close affair away to Hellingly’s third team.

Sidley triumphed by one wicket, but the afternoon was really about players reacquainting themselves with team-mates they hadn’t seen for months and finally playing some cricket.

Hellingly were all out for 173 off the final ball of their 40 overs, with ten Sidley players getting a bowl.

Jimmy Blackman took three wickets in the final over after Steve Ramsden claimed 4-18 and Cavan O’Connor 3-17. Some terrific catches were taken by the likes of Paul Oxborrow, Simon Newstead and Jacob McDonough.

Sidley recovered from 6-2 and 18-3 in reply to just about reach their target.

Ramsden steered them home with an unbeaten 87 after surviving several dropped catches. Mark Hopkinson was 14 not out while McDonough made 22.

ECB return to play guidelines were followed closely.

Robertsbridge

Socially distanced cricket arrived at The Clappers in Robertsbridge on Saturday. New rules were in place as the club enjoyed a first afternoon of cricket for 2020. Three 15/15 matches were played to ease the club back in.

The club welcomed Steve Waters from their new sponsor Anchor Scaffolding and he met Cameron Christie, the new first team captain and Lee Mardell continuing his role with the second team. Both teams have been entered in the August Cup.

Parents welcomed the return of junior coaching with drills designed to be within the Covid-19 rules. The sessions are on a Monday night.

Buxted Park

After a ten-month absence, cricket is back across England.

And amazingly, the sun returned with it.

Buxted Park CC chose to begin the season with an intra-club match with two teams made up by the combination of the 1st XI and the 2nd XI.

Winning the socially distanced toss, Craig Olive of ‘Craig’s Olives’ won the toss and elected to bat on what looked a track with something for everyone.

This wasn’t the case, as Warwick Barnes was run out by Alfie Hunter early on and was closely followed by Tom Clift and Ollie Jones.

At 15-3 the ‘Olives’ looked in trouble, especially with seamers Reddimg Barnes and Isaac Heater beating the bat regularly.

Ric Haynes and Ryan Banham (50 retired) steadied the ship, setting up club debutant George Read to hit an exciting 81, which brought the Olives’ to a total of 216 from their 40 overs.

In response, their opponents ‘Puxted Bark’ lost captain Dom Heater (0) early to a once in a lifetime delivery from club stalwart Paul Shepperd.

Alfie Hunter and another club debutant Will Rist (50 retired) dragged ‘Puxted’ to 80-1 upon Will Rist’s retirement. Finley Coddington (40) upped the ante with some penetrating strikes around the ground.

From this point on the Olives were simply bystanders as ‘Puxted’ comfortably chased home their target with five wickets and five balls left.

Fixtures will continue throughout the summer on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays and spectators are more than welcome.

Newick Friendly XI v Newick Legends

An intra-club match was organised by Newick CC.

The sun was shining, all preparations were in place for social distancing and even the scorers were two metres apart outside of the score box.

The Legends won the toss and elected to field.

The format was 40 overs a side with breaks every six overs for complying with the regulations.

Josh Essex opened the batting for the Friendly XI along with Alex Heasman.

Essex scored 108 runs (17 fours included) before losing his wicket in the penultimate over.

Joe Waylett scored 66 which moved the score along to a total of 236.

The last wicket fell in the 40th over.

Ben Whelpton took three wickets for 50 runs for the Legends.

In reply, there was a very slow start from the Legends – perhaps they were not the same without their cricket tea.

Gradually they found their stride and with a good innings from Matt Sawyer of 59 and Ben Whelpton’s 41 not out, the chase was on.

The Legends fell just short and reached 226 from their 40 overs.

Barcombe v Plumpton

Barcombe groundsman Joe Wheatley probably thought he was his family’s cricketing headline grabber for the week.

The paramedic was chosen as one of the key workers whose work England would highlight during the first Test against the West Indies.

But he’d reckoned without his younger brother Josh, who marked the first game of the season with a match-winning century.

Plumpton were welcomed to the BRG as the sun shone. Both teams changed outside, there were hand sanitising breaks every ten overs – and no tea. Sanjay Patel won the toss and elected to field. Allan Trower and Josh Wheatley had no early joy and Plumpton looked set for a big score.

George Martin was run out by Callum Coppard before Trower claimed a catch off Paul Coppard.

Max Taylor entered the attack and Ollie Levett, making his debut, removed the two set batsmen, with Jon Wood, cleared up the middle order.

Ollie Allsobrook looked dangerous when he came on to bowl and Plumpton closed on 213-8.

By now quite a crowd had filled the BRG.

Josh Wheatley and Max Taylor started well – Wheatley the aggressor in a positive opening stand before Taylor gave a simple catch.

Coppard and Wheatley put Plumpton to the sword. Mixing positive strokeplay with diligent defence and a fair bit of luck the two raced towards the target. Wheatley reached his hundred – his first for some time – and immediately fell but Coppard continued.

Wood and club stalwart Andy Allsobrook contributed as Barcombe cruised to the total with ten overs to spare, Will Marler sealing victory with a six.

Coppard finished on an excellent 89 not out.

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