Lancing College | Sussex Martlets

Match Report

Generous Martlets declaration results in great cricket at Lancing

Sussex Martlets 189-5; Salvi 102 ret, Cooper 59; Edgler 2-39, John 2-48
Lancing College 195-7; Coupe 40, O Devaux 34; Stemp 2-17, Guest 2-46

A sporting declaration that backfires massively – this is the outcome of the Martlets’ match against Lancing College.

On a glorious day, with the College looking resplendent, the Martlets chose (arranged) to bat on a flat pitch. Nick Ratcliffe and Sam Cooper strode out with great purpose, only for Ratcliffe to return the next over, having feathered one behind off the bowling of Edgler. Dhiren Salvi, our latest recruit from India, joined Cooper in the middle, and both batsmen set about the Lancing bowling, being particularly savage to the twin left-arm spinners. The partnership grew and grew to leave the Martlets 130 for 1 at lunch, with both batsmen passing 50.

With instructions from the skipper to hurry the scoreboard along, Cooper fell very soon after lunch for 59, caught and bowled John, as he selflessly looked to attack. Robin Frean joined Salvi in the middle and set about in the same manner, striking a couple of boundaries before being well caught off the bowling of Edgler. This wicket sent the chairman in.

Using his infinite wisdom and experience, he guided Salvi to a superb 100, coming off 128 balls, including nine fours, and brought up with maximum. Salvi then retired, allowing Tom Prideaux de Lacy and then debutant, James Stemp, to bat out the remaining few overs. The Chairman finished 6 not out, Stemp 9 not out as the Martlets declared on 189 for 5 off 43 overs.

The College got off to a flyer as some uncontrollable swing and some very lumbering keeping from the captain saw the first two overs go for 19. Ethan Guest and Johnny Heaven brought back some control, but the College openers, Barniel and Coupe, accumulated well and gradually built up a good partnership. Some guile was needed – enter Paul “Daytime TV” Walker. He broke the partnership, picking up the wickets of both openers, and soon he and Stemp were bowling with good accuracy and creating chances. Stemp dismissed the Lancing skipper and soon the College found themselves 4 down, with the skipper (wisely ceding the keeping pads at this point) picking up the 4th wicket. But good partnerships between the Devauxs and then O.Devaux and Corney took the school within 30 runs, ably assisted by some tiring legs in the field. Stemp and Guest (x2) picked up these crucial wickets, leaving the College 7 down requiring 12 off two overs.

Sadly the skipper brought himself back on for penultimate over and proceeded to bowl such filth that the College batsmen took full advantage, ending the match with a maximum over long-on.

A big thank you for the lads who turned out, and to Midge and Les for scoring and umpiring. A perfect example of a declaration gone wrong, but a cracking day nonetheless.