Hampshire Hogs

Hector Loughton striking a fine drive for four

On a glorious sunny day in August, the Sussex Martlets gathered for a resumption of the fixture against the Hampshire Hogs at their ground in Warnford.  The setting was magnificent and after a short discussion concerning each team having 10 players, the toss was won by Stuart Ritchie for the Sussex Martlets and he inserted the Hogs into bat.

Opening the bowling was Hector Loughton up the hill and Derek Horsham down the hill.  Hector bowled valiantly but for no wickets.  Derek in his first spell took a single wicket, but with a troublesome front foot leaking seven no balls, he was replaced by Craig Talbot.  His first over was a wicket maiden and Craig went on to take a further two wickets ending up with figures of 40-3. Chris Pring took over from Hector and bowled an economic spell of 9 overs right up to lunch taking one wicket for 32 runs.  The very fine bowling of Adam Cooper succeeded Craig and in a spell of 14.3 overs Adam took 3 wickets for 38 including six maidens.  After lunch Robert Berendt bowled up the hill and was unlucky not to take a wicket.  With Adam coming down the hill, Derek Horsham returned for a short spell yielding him a further wicket.  It was however to Adam Cooper that the final wicket fell and the Hogs innings closed on 206 all out.

The Martlets opened with  Hassan Chaabane and Hector Loughton.   Hector in particular took to the Hogs bowling very well and with three sixes and fourteen fours he reached his 100 before retiring out.  All should have been well at that stage with the Martlets on 164-2 needing 43 runs to win the game.  However it was not to be and the Martlets were all out for 189.  It is thought better that the finer details of this collapse are left unsaid as the Hogs emerged, by their own admission, as rather surprised victors on the day.

The Sussex Martlets are very pleased to have resumed their fixture with the Hampshire Hogs and arrangements have been made to continue this in future years.

Stuart Ritchie

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