Rye slump to league leaders

Rye Cricket Club suffered a five-wicket defeat away to table-topping Slinfold in a crucial early season game on Saturday.
A Rye wicket falls during the defeat at Slinfold. Picture by Jon Rigby (SUS-150806-101803008)A Rye wicket falls during the defeat at Slinfold. Picture by Jon Rigby (SUS-150806-101803008)
A Rye wicket falls during the defeat at Slinfold. Picture by Jon Rigby (SUS-150806-101803008)

It was Rye’s second successive loss after a three-match winning start to their Sussex Cricket League Division Four campaign.

Eager to bounce back from the previous weekend’s reverse away to Henfield, Rye lost the toss and were asked to take first knock on what looked like a decent wicket.

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Rye lost Dan Seabrook early to the bowling of Bajan speedster Akeem Jordan, but James Hamilton (20) and Kshemal Waingankar (12) moved the score along to 42 and seemed to be setting the foundation for a solid total.

Hamilton fell in bizarre fashion, however, to a ball that dipped late from Jordan and Waingankar was caught mis-timing a pull.

What ensued was a batting collapse that has, on occasions, been all too familiar this season. A procession of wickets fell, leaving Rye ruing what might have been on a decent wicket as they were dismissed for a below par 105.

Only Spencer Fielding offered any resistance with a well-compiled 18 in difficult circumstances, pleasing to see given the work he has put in off the field this season.

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Jordan was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3-28 and was ably supported by Daniel Graycon, who picked up 4-19 at the other end.

Despite the low total, Rye felt they still had a chance as they possess arguably one of the best bowling attacks in the league. Initially, it appeared as though these thoughts may not have been so far fetched as Gary Willis removed Nabeel Nilamdeen for six with an excellent swinging delivery.

Waingankar then got among the wickets, removing Jordan for three and Craig Skilton for seven. At this stage Slinfold were rocking at 30-3, but some lusty hitting from Paul Osborne (58 not out) formed the backbone of the Slinfold innings.

Despite Rye picking up two more wickets towards the end of the chase, it was always going to be a difficult proposition for the bowlers with such a low total to defend. The pick of the attack was Waingankar with 3-36 and Willis with 1-31.

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This coming Saturday, the first XI will host Southwater in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera, the seconds will travel to Rottingdean in Sussex 2nd XI Division Three (East) and the thirds are away to Seaford fourths in East Sussex Cricket League Division 11. On Sunday, the friendly XI will play Beckley.

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