Sidley 3rd XI v. Hastings Priory 4th XI (July 22nd)

Sidley 120
Hastings Priory 124-3

SIDLEY'S third team remains off the bottom of East Sussex Division Ten, but only by the skin of their teeth after Saturday's heavy defeat. Robin Cooper's side has been caught by Linden Park IV on 100 points and the Tunbridge Wells-based club, whom they play tomorrow (Saturday), has a game in hand. An out-of-sorts Sidley batting line-up was bowled out cheaply on a Sandrock pitch of variable bounce following the heavy rain of the previous night. Sidley got to 24 before Paul Oxborrow was the first of three batsmen to depart in the space of five runs to leave them wobbling on 29-3. A 30 run stand between Simon Newstead (11) and Mark Gransden (22) got them back on track slightly, but another clatter of wickets saw them plummet to 84-8. Andy Pearson (7) and Cooper (22 not out) took the score to 112 at the fall of the ninth wicket and a wide ensured that a solitary batting point was attained. A solid opening partnership between Ian Wilson, who hit hard through the off side in his 46, and Dale Payne (18) effectively put the game beyond Sidley. Greig finished things off with 34, while the wickets were taken by Pearson (1-36) and Craig Ramsden (1-43), plus a Rory Capon run out.

Unfortunately, 120 was never going to be enough to test the high-flying Priory side.