All Blacks turn to Black Bats for cricket match with Burgess Hill

Batting first the rugby club’s newly formed “Black Bats” got off to a good start with backs Jamie Eade and Rhys Clarke putting on 60 for the second wicket after Hooker Ben Dewey had been caught early on.

The innings gained momentum when former Great Britain baseball player and second row Nick Maple came to the crease. With 4 sixes and 5 fours Maple knocked up an entertaining and quick fire half century taking the Black Bats to 135-3.

Prop Paul Hasib, No 8 Dave Wattam, Flanker Kyle Tucker, and backs Mike Jennings and Rory Shillaker added steady runs as Black Bats ended up on 228-8.

Burgess Hill Cricket Club responded well putting in over 70 for the first wicket as Dan Austin scored 50 runs and a superb 33 from Izzy Deamer put them in control on 158-3.

However tight bowling from scrum half Jon Maple, second row Harvey Hays and back row Jordan Sayers pegged back the cricket club charge and when flanker James May completed an important run out - BHCC were left needing 20 runs off the last two overs.

In the final over, Phil Marshall, who had already hit some huge sixes on his way to an impressive 44, took a risky second run. Excellent fielding from Ben Dewey and Jon Maple ended Marshall’s innings. Requiring 6 runs off the last ball to win, BHCC could only manage a four and their innings ended on 227-8 giving the rugby club a one run victory.

The event was organised to raise funds for Burgess Hill Cricket Clubs’s “Turn St Johns Park Green” to urgently repair the outfield and make it safe for all players and allow the senior sides to play at a higher level.

The Sussex All Blacks are currently training for rugby every Tuesday and Thursday 7:30-9pm and hope to be back playing in November. If anyone would like to join please contact DoR Ross Hallifax seniors@bhrfc or 07941 016836