Saturday 4 May – Preston Nomads
Preston Nomads won the toss and elected to bat on what looked like a brilliant wicket. Bowling with the new pink balls in coloured kit, the Nomads openers started well against the normally destructive L Hatchett and I Sturmer. They reached 57-0 off 9 overs before Sturmer grabbed the deserved break when Khan’s luck ran out; caught at mid wicket by Adkin. B Hatchett bowled excellently unchanged for 10 overs getting two deserved wickets of Poole (38) and Ward (10). It could have been more.
Although East Grinstead got regular wickets – Nomads accumulated regular boundaries, taking advantage of some early season bowling from Grinstead, ending on 254 all out from their 50 overs. O Graham and W Taylor were the other pick of the bowlers ending with figures 3-38 and 3-37 respectably.
Unfortunately for Grinstead the weather took a turn for the worst when it was their time to bat, with three forced breaks with heavy rain. With a total of 14 overs lost and no Duckworth Lewis in place, Grinstead were hard done by with the adjusted target. Nomads deserve credit for better bowling, extracting more movement from the surface accounting for many of the Grinstead batsmen. Patel was the pick of the bowlers ending with figures of 3-18 from 8 economical overs. T Haynes (fresh back from Loughborough MCCU side) was the pick of the batsmen ending with 38 runs before being caught in the deep in the desire to score quick runs. The only other score of note was O Graham who scored 29.
Grinstead are away to Middleton on Saturday and look to bounce back with a win. However, they will be without W Adkin.
Sunday 28 April – Holmesdale CC
National 40 Over Cup Competition
Holmesdale won the toss and elected to bowl on what looked like an excellent April wicket at East Grinstead. They made early inrodes when Tom Haynes (East Grinstead’s new signing) was adjuded LBW to David Hudson. This brought Will Adkin to the crease and him and newly appointed captain Darryl Rebbetts began accumilating runs comfortably. They put on 62 before Rebbetts fell for 41 well made runs. Ollie graham kept momentum Grinstead’s way scoring a breezy 24 to take the total to 152-2 at the 30 over mark leaving plenty of wickets in hand for final 10 overs to pick up the rate. However this wasn’t to be and with regular wickets lost in the final 10, Grinstead finished 30 runs short of a par total on 184-8. Will Adkin top scoring with an excellently made 70. David Hudson (Holmesdale’s overseas player) ending with excellent figures of 5-31 off his 8 overs.
Unfortunately for Grinstead the Homlesdale openers started well making it to 67 before Ollie Graham took two quick wickets to give Grinstead hope. However, David Brabham was relentless, scoring regular boundaries in his 110 not out off only 103 balls. Especially quick onto anything too short or wide. Will Adkin took a forth consolidation wicket, but Holmesdale got home with 4 overs to spare and were worthy winners by 6 wickets. Ollie Graham looked to bring some form into the league season with 3-40 off his 8 overs. George Cave bowled well without any luck and is a positive to take from today’s loss.
Grinstead look to improve in our first home game against a strong Preston Nomads this coming Saturday, once again at home.
