Hampshire Hoggetts | Sussex Martlets

Match Report

Junior Martlets U.16 XI v The Hampshire Hoggets played at Hurstpierpoint College

Hampshire Hoggets 203 all out (39 overs) Will Collard 3 for 36, Olly Bradley 3 for 41, Jack Troak 2 for 33

The Junior Martlets found themselves facing the strongest Hoggets side they have encountered since the fixture was re-established three years ago. The Hoggets having won the toss and elected to bat made a strong start despite the promising opening attack of George Ainsley and Olly Bradley. It was Will Collard’s leg spin though that made the opening break-through. Both he and Jack Troak, the captain, with his leg breaks induced errors from the batsmen but chances didn’t quite go to hand until Joe Gilligan caught the top scorer behind off Troak. With his next ball he bowled a bemused batsmen round his legs. The Martlet bowlers then moved into the ascendency with wickets coming for Will Collard, two in his final over, Olly Bradley, George Ainsley and Alex Brazier. At 156 for 8 things looked promising but the Hoggets number 10 clearly felt that was not enough and made an excellent rear guard offensive to take the score to over 200 in the space of 5 overs.

Josh Medley and Ed Fairfax made a steady start after tea to see off a useful opening attack. Medley went on to score a promising 49 but the Hoggets fielding knocked a hole in a strong Martlets batting line up with some fine catching. Three wickets fell on 84 and real recovery never really came after that. Two run-outs didn’t help affairs along with an example odd shot selection when it came to trying to consolidate the innings and it all came to an end earlier than perhaps it might have done. The old cricketing adages of “catches win matches” and “don’t run to a miss-field” still hold good! But having said that there are always positives to draw from any game; Josh Medley and George Ainsley are both handy finds for the Martlets. Above all the dressing room spirit of the team could not have been better.