Brighton College

Brighton College 270-4 (50 overs)

Sussex Martlets 225 all out (47.5 overs) – Sam Carter 102, Andrew Hartridge 41

SM lost by 45 runs

In a 50-overs-a-side match, Brighton College won the toss and batted first on a wicket that wouldn’t have looked out of place in mid-July. Their openers Kalidascan (92) and Bahemou (93) both had moments of good fortune but took heavy toll of a slightly rusty early-season Martlets attack, putting on 188 for the 1st wicket in 32 overs. Mark Tomsett finally made the breakthrough during an excellent spell of left-arm spin and pegged the College back with 1 for 30 from his allotted 10 overs. Matt Stone (1 for 50) and Alex Armstrong (1 for 56) also helped to keep the score in check, and Jools Barr bowled an impressive final over, from which just 2 runs came, and the Martlets were very pleased to have kept Brighton College to 270.

In reply, the two Sams, Carter and Chettleburgh, got the Martlets off to a good start with a stand of 73, before Chettleburgh, perhaps unsettled/confused by his skipper’s request for "more of the same", chipped the 1st ball after the drinks break to mid-on. Carter started to find his rhythm and timing, and with Tomsett unleashing some lusty blows, the Martlets were perfectly placed at the halfway stage of the innings, needing 150 at a-run-a-ball with 9 wickets in hand. Unfortunately, Tomsett, Will Ross, and Stuart Ritchie were dismissed in the space of 3 overs and the Martlets began to fall behind the rate. However, while Carter remained there was still hope, and he began to accelerate, even hitting a rare 6! He brought up his century (from 127 balls) in style with consecutive boundaries, but was stumped off the very next ball. Andrew Hartridge took up the charge with an innings of 41 from 39 balls, but there was little support from the lower order and the Martlets innings closed at 225 with 13 balls to spare.

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