Lindfield cricket round-up

Lindfield CC 1st XI v Three Bridges CC 1st XI

Lindfield won by 3 wickets

Having lost the toss, Lindfield were asked to field and the going was tough early on as the Three Bridges openers started confidently. Their stand had reached 38 before Shane Yelverton removed Ludlow and then immediately followed this up by dismissing Cowan for a duck.

38-2 soon became 48-4 as Hayden James got in on the act with 2 wickets and Bridges had to look to rebuild the innings. They did this through the Alderman and Walker who took the score to 91 before Alderman lost his wicket in freak circumstances - his slog sweep deflecting off short leg’s boot and straight into the hands of mid wicket.

The pitch was a good one though and with a relatively short boundary on one side, runs could be scored freely. Ollie Blandford and Michael Rose, who both made 30s, demonstrated this, and they helped Bridges to 176 all out. Bowling plaudits going to the prolific Lindfield seam bowlers, Hayden James (4-49) and Shane Yelverton (3-66) with special mention to Steve Pearce for a fantastic catch at gulley and figures of 1-3

Lindfield’s response started well with Simon Shivnarain and Geoff Lawrence putting on 65 for the opening wicket before Lawrence fell for 20. Unfortunately, Shivnarain fell quickly after for 48 and when O’Dowd was removed cheaply, Bridges sensed an opportunity of a win over the league leaders. This appeared very much the case as some inspired bowling by Chappell and Rose soon had Lindfield floundering at 114-6. Fortunately, the side bats deep and the captain, Phil Weir, joined Lyle James in a key stand. They added 37 priceless runs before James fell for 21 and the score 151-7. It took all the experience of Weir (26 not out) and Kevin Chamberlain (2 not out) to take the Lindfield side to victory with Weir clipping one off his legs for the winning boundary with 3 overs to spare

A great game played in good spirit and a result, which sees Lindfield with breathing space at the top of the league with 5 games to go.

Lindfield CC 2nd XI v Chichester Priory Park CC 2nd XI

Lindfield won by 115 runs

Lindfield 2nd XI beat Chichester this Saturday to go 2nd in the Division 2 league. Winning the toss and batting first, openers Scott Clark (98) and and Jack Sadler (31) put on a solid start and Vincent Lawson’s 21 added to this. A blistering 34 from Jake Brookes further strengthened Lindfield’s position as their middle order has often struggled this season. The 2s finished 228-8 as Chichester fought back through Elliot Davies (4-34) and some good fielding.

With ball in hand, Lindfield started well as Scott Pedley picked up a brace early on. Skipper Nick Hopkins then unleashed spin duo Henry Fowler (5-32, pictured) and Gareth Padgett (3-25) who tore through the middle and bottom order to round things off for Lindfield, who have now won five of their last seven games.

Lindfield CC 3rd XI v Preston Nomads CC 3rd XI

Lindfield won by 24 runs

Lindfield Swans won a hard fought contest against 2nd placed Preston Nomads 3rd XI by 24 runs. After being asked to bat first Lindfield soon struggled against the tight bowling of Rebecca Silk (6 for 43) and, despite a solid 50 from Tom Storer, were in desperate trouble at 95 for 8. Thereafter an amazing recovery from youngsters Will Longley (48), Ross Pedley (20) and Will Spence (15) boosted the total to 183 all out - helped by a last wicket stand of 47 runs.

Preston Nomads’ reply started well and at 69 for 2 and looked well set to control the game. However, youngsters Dominic Morgan (3 for 31) and Ross Pedley (3 for 20) had other ideas as they started to take regular wickets to peg Nomads back. Then a fiery spell of fast bowling from Sebastian Masters (3 for 23) destroyed the heart of the Nomads innings who, despite excellent knocks by Joey Appleton 40 and James Downey 50, were all out for 159. The win consolidated Lindfield’s mid table position.

Lindfield CC 4th XI v Lingfield CC 4th XI

Lindfield lost by 8 wickets

Lindfield 4th XI won the toss and, deciding to bat first, were soon regretting their decision as they collapsed to 30 for 4 from a mixture of rash shots and good bowling. Yet steady batting from senior players Malcolm Page (59no) and Lloyd Fielder (30) turned things around before a quick-fire innings from youngster David Lea (39no) ensured a healthy score of 151 for 5 to defend.  Lingfield’s best bowler was Rishi Ramsumair who took 3 for 25.

Unfortunately Lindfield’s bowling could not contain the home sides quick scoring as top of the table Lingfield cruised to victory by 8 wickets with

Stuart Aldrich (43) and Chris Bowry (43no) seeing things home. This Saturday Lindfield will be hoping to return to winning ways as they entertain Keymer & Hassocks at Great Walstead School.

Lindfield XI v Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)

Lindfield won by 1 wicket

Lindfield’s 68th annual cricket week got under way with a thriller on the Common as Lindfield scraped home with a 1 wicket win against the prestigious MCC. Bowling first, Lindfield’s Huw Jones bowled tight lines and found awkward bounce to restrict the MCC openers. TJR Burden’s resolute and chanceless 68, alongside MEC Chapman (29) took the MCC to 72/2 at lunch, before Jones struck for his second wicket with the second ball of the session. The MCC quietly and classily accumulated runs around the vast outfield, batting assuredly on a flat pitch that kept the bowlers interested on a good length. MAF Cooke’s late 24 augmented the MCC score as they reached 221/7 declared. William Longley took 2/53 as he looked to peg back the onrushing batsmen at the end.

Lindfield got off to a good start at 36 for the first wicket, but a quick flurry from Eastbourne pace-man Cooke, who went on to take six wickets, pegged Lindfield back to 45/3 at tea. Vincent Lawson and Max O’Dowd put on 25 for the 4th wicket before Lawson fell to another catch behind by TJR Burton. Lindfield lost regular wickets but O’Dowd remained, timing the ball sweetly to all parts of the ground. He took apart the bowling of JD Hadworth, who went for 56 from 6, and WDL Haines – 50 from 4. O’Dowd’s century came at over a run a ball, and he quickly progressed to 130. Meanwhile, Lindfield found themselves within 15 runs of victory with 2 wickets in hand, before – as the scores were drawn – Chamberlain fell to some tidy bowling. Needing 1 wicket to tie the match, MCC captain T Van Noort beat the bat of number 11 Huw Jones but failed to hit the stumps. The next over, O’Dowd (143no) saw the home side to victory in a nail-biting finish.

There is cricket today on the Common, starting at 11:30am as the Lindfield side takes on the Kenya Kongonis.

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