Ardingly College

Sussex Martlets v Ardingly College 1st XI
at Ardingly College on 27 May 2021

All Four Results Possible Going into the Final Over!

Declaration cricket has long been a staple of the Sussex Martlets and is one dimension of the cricket the club brings to the senior schools of Sussex each year, most of whom are brought up on a diet of overs cricket.

And so it turned out on a spring day at Ardingly College that going into the final over, all four results of win, lose, draw or tie were possible. Ryan Trotter, a Junior Martlet himself, almost got over the line for Ardingly College, only to be run out by the Lindfield overseas, who formerly played in the IPL, with his highly accurate throw from fine leg for a runout which effectively ended Ardingly College’s run chase leading to a draw.

The day started in fine fettle. There was a great sense of anticipation for a day’s cricket as society increasingly came out of lockdown as the vaccination programme took hold throughout the United Kingdom. Appropriate separation measures were in place, including officially no spectators, and for the Martlets at least, an open air changing room on the boundary!

The Martlets won the toss and elected to bat. Opening with James Scott and Jordan Shaw, the Martlets made steady progress until Shaw fell for 11 runs with a sense that he had missed out. Scott continued to accumulate runs until he was caught off the bowling of Trotter for 49. Notable performances from the Lindfield overseas, Apoorv Wankhede with 52 runs and Rafe Leibers with 43 runs took the Martlets to a total of 253 for 6 off 48 overs.

With the declaration coming at 3.30pm, would there be enough time for Ardingly College to knock off the runs? Opening with Dominic Morgan and Rafe Leibers, the first 14 overs bowled went for 53 runs. Match manager Ritchie opened up the bowling with the introduction of veteran Martlet Mark Trubshaw and the Lindfield overseas with further wickets being steadily taken. Heading towards time, and with Ardingly scoring freely, Dominic Morgan and Rafe Leibers were re-introduced into the bowling attack.

Rafe bowled the final over with the Martlets needing 2 wickets, Ardingly needing 17 runs to win, 16 runs for the tie, or to be not all out for the draw. With Trotter gone, Ardingly batted out for a well deserved draw.

Grateful thanks to director of cricket Keith Wright and their cricket coach Jordan Rollings, a Martlet himself as well as our officials John Holland and Tony Gibbs.

The Sussex Martlets greatly anticipate a return visit next year!

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