Date: 13 Jun 2018
Venue: Three Bridges CC
Time/Result: Lost by 7 wkts
Match Manager: Alan Newman
Umpire: Barry Peay
Scorer: Tony Gibbs
Machan at Mach One!
Who would prevail ? The Westminster Pink or the Old Gold? After last year’s draw, the Martlets and Nomads assembled again at Three Bridges in the hope of another run fest and they weren’t to be disappointed.
Winning the toss (passively), new MM for the game and member also of Nomads, Alan Newman had no hesitation in batting as virtually the whole of his side had centuries to their name, one in the last millennium! Mike Loveday stand in, Sam Rhys opening with Toby Pullan took the score comfortably to 39 before Toby was caught. At 71, Sam followed for 33 , lbw to the spin of Butcher. Joe O’Gorman sadly failed in front of the club President , who no doubt offered some sage words of advice. At 92, Ben followed Sam for an identical dismissal and score. At 92-4 things weren’t going quite to plan however a well constructed partnership between Olly Bradley and new recruit Kemar Small (Slinfold overseas) took the score to 260, with Olly batting well for an excellent 110* and Kemar letting loose at the end to finish on 56*. Declaration and the usual excellent tea!
The plan was still going well when Taylor was bounced out third ball for 0 by Jordy. Enter Matt Machan , well known to many Sussex followers in recent seasons, who after a short slow beginning of around 10 balls against Jordy and Kemar, proceeded to crash the ball to all parts of Crawley on the fast scoring ground. A couple of chances were given at 111 to Freano and at 144 to the increasingly greying MM but by then the damage was done as with A.Dillon (50) they put on 250 for the second wicket before both fell in succession , caught Toby Pullan bowled Martlet MOM Olly Bradley. We had hoped Matt would get bored at 100 , but when he didn’t at 150 either, morale sagged. It transpired he was after his career high of 192 but he fell 3 short. The Nomads high individual score had gone to him though.
The next pair saw it out with 10 overs to spare.
Match highlights:
1) Chris Page (Nomads): “you’ve batted 10 minutes too long”
2) The 22 4s and 13 6s from Matt (189 from 91 balls)
3) Barry Peay “we’ll add 5 mins on” after a prolonged period of ball searching, thus scuppering plan B…
4) Brian departing before grandson Joe bowled
5) Freano deciding it was not the right time for his first bowl of the season.
6) A qualified umpire as MM breaking the laws of cricket before the first ball was bowled .How could that be? Answers to the Secretary will win a mystery prize…
Batted first team:
Sussex Martlets
Batted first score:
260-4d
Batted first leading batters/bowlers:
O.Bradley 110*, K.Small 56*, B.Pullan 33, S.Rhys 33
Batted second team:
Nomads
Batted second score:
261-3
Batted second leading batters/bowlers:
M.Machan 189, A.Dillon 50, O.Bradley 2-47
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