Rye clinch title with derby win

Rye captain Sandun Dias hit his first East Sussex Cricket League century to fire his side to the Division One title.
Ben Clifton bowls for Rye against Iden. Picture by Tony Coombes Photography (eh36601e)Ben Clifton bowls for Rye against Iden. Picture by Tony Coombes Photography (eh36601e)
Ben Clifton bowls for Rye against Iden. Picture by Tony Coombes Photography (eh36601e)

A seven-wicket victory away to local rivals Iden on Saturday provided Rye with the win they needed to cement top spot with a game to spare.

Iden won the toss and elected to bat on a good track and fast outfield. Dias trapped Phil Shanks (17) lbw with the score 35 before Michael and David White began to force the pace.

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It was 16-year-old spinner Harry Smeed who bowled both brothers, Michael for 63 and David for 35, and with Martin Blincow taking a wicket of his own, Iden were 138-4.

Dias then returned to dismiss Ian Addy and Iden skipper James Tree in the same over to make it 146-6. George Avann (20) and Graham Tree added 30 valuable runs, but two quick bits of fielding by Rye, especially Smeed’s run out of Tree, swung the game back their way as Blincow snapped up the last two wickets as Iden were all out for 205.

James Hamilton was run out in the first over of Rye’s reply by a direct hit from the boundary by Tree, but Dias and Dan Seabrook put together a 107-run partnership in just 17 overs, full of glorious shots.

There was a slight wobble as Seabrook fell for 32 and Nigel Hacking fell shortly afterwards to leave Rye 115-3, but Jackson Woodcock and Dias continued to put Iden to the sword.

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Twenty-one runs off an over brought a swift end to the game as Rye sealed victory in just 34.3 overs. Gandhi Tandoori man of the match Dias was 120 not out off just 92 balls with 15 fours and four sixes. It’s been a great effort by a young team which has grown up together in the colts set-up at Rye.

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