Old Cranleighans

Sussex Martlets v Old Cranleighans CC

at East Grinstead Sports Centre on 15 August 2021

 Gathering on a fine summers’ day, at the ground at East Grinstead Sports Centre, the pitch was in fine fettle, the sun was shining and there was a pleasant breeze allowing the cricketers to stay comfortable.

The toss was won by the Sussex Martlets and they elected to bat.  The Martlets presented a side comprising two playing members, two juniors, one candidate, five guests drawn from EG and Kent, together with a Colt drawn at short notice given one of our number had to withdraw in the morning due to Covid, an increasingly regular occurrence.

Opening with Luke Foster and Luke Nelson, the Martlets made a good start until Luke Nelson was unpicked by a ball seaming in to take his middle stump.  Time was lost to incessant drizzle and the players retired to the pavilion to watch day four of the England v India Test Match, as Joe Root continued in his imperious batting form.  An early lunch was taken before play resumed in the afternoon.

Luke Foster claimed 31 runs and one of our guests Johnny Carpenter hit a splendid 39 runs until being stumped by the sharp hands of the OC’s keeper Shanmugower.  Wickets continually fell with no one batsman pushing beyond the 40’s, although to be fair if the OC’s had held their catches, then we would have posted a less than competitive total.  After 47 overs, in a curtailed match, the Martlets declared on 190 runs.

The OC’s opened up with the Sorrell father and son partnership, the younger Sorrell being only twelve years old.  Sorrell father survived the opening bowling of Ritchie Junior and Luke Foster, but the introduction of EG’s Mo Hazhar did for Sorrell father with an outswinging Yorker first ball.  Thereafter the OC’s presented a chanceless innings with Sorrell Junior getting his half century and the OC’s wicket keeper Shanmugower claiming a century with the match winning shot.

Grateful thanks to EG for providing the ground, to Bob Daisley for standing for the Martlets, Ron Pateman for standing for the OC’s, and to Yolanda Hinton for scoring for both sides.  It is to be hoped a fixture arranged earlier in the season next year will be to the advantage of both sides.

Stuart Ritchie

Match Manager

Sussex Martlets

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