St Bede’s School | Sussex Martlets

Match Report

St Bede’s School 285 for 6 dec (52 overs) – Shawn Hope 119, Michael Murray 5 for 64
Sussex Martlets 143 all out (47.2 overs) – Adam Scott 53

On another sunny May day, St Bede’s won the toss and elected to bat. The Martlets new-ball attack of Jools Barr and guest Mark Wycherley started well, restricting the home side to just 18 runs from the first 10 overs. The skipper brought himself on and struck with his first ball, flummoxing yet another schoolboy with his lack of pace. This brought the school’s skipper, Barbados U-19 keeper/batsman Shawn Hope, to the crease. He started calmly, and with 2 more wickets falling at the other end to Murray, he was the key man. Lunch was taken with honours fairly even at 151 for 3. After lunch, however, Hope, aided by first Crocombe (38 from 48 balls) and then Glenn (39 from 28 balls) really stepped on the gas, as the home side plundered another 134 runs from just 14 overs, allowing them to declare at 285 for 6. Hope finished with a well-made 119 from just 93 balls, an innings that included twelve 4s and six 6s, while Murray took 5 for 64.

In reply, The Martlets started brightly but then lost Steve Bail and Ben Ferns in successive overs. Adam Scott (53) and Will Rydon (33) shored things up with a partnership of 71, but by this stage the required run rate had climbed to nearly 7 runs per over. A clatter of wickets then ensued, as no Martlet was able to master the school’s spinners, of whom Callum Guest (4 for 44) was the pick. The school wrapped up victory with 11.4 overs to spare, bowling the Martlets out for 143, and giving everyone plenty of time to enjoy the sumptuous post-match barbecue!