Sidley win keeps them in second place

Buxted Park 3rd XI  114 (37.5 overs) – 6 points
Sidley  116-6 for 8 (25.4 overs) – 30 points 

Having done well to bowl out the home side for just 114 on the Nutley ground, Sidley made overtaking the target total rather more difficult than anticipated, but they did eventually manage to gain the sought-after 30 points.

Josh Bull won the toss yet again and chose to field first. Buxted Park reached 38-1 before the first wicket fell, but then slumped to 74-6, before their number 6 batsman added a valuable 31 runs to take the total over 100. Pick of the Sidley bowlers were Cavan O'Connor, who took 3-19 off 9 overs, Helen Harrod, who took 3-30 off 8 overs, and Craig Ramsden with his 2-11 off 3.5 overs.

Sidley then found what should have been the straightforward task of overtaking the Buxted score increasingly difficult, and with Simon Newstead, Steve Ramsden, Josh Bull and Dane Capon all dismissed cheaply, things were beginning to look bleak at 46-4. Fortunately, opener Jamie Ramsden continued to occupy the crease, showing good concentration and the ability to strike any ball in the right area to the boundary to move the score along. With Dave Coveney and Craig Ramsden then soon departing, it was left to Jacob McDonough (25 n.o.) to assist Jamie Ramsden (41 n.o) in steering Sidley to a victory that had, at one stage, seemed to have eluded them. Sidley's cause was greatly aided by the 13 extras given away by Buxted. 

It is to be noted that Jamie Ramsden has now amassed 147 runs without being dismissed in his two innings for Sidley so far this season.

After this scare at the hands of the second bottom side, next week Sidley return to the Sandhurst Recreation Ground to play the league leaders Tunbridge Wells 4th XI in what could well be a showdown for the league title. Sidley batsmen will need to show a higher level of concentration if they are to win what looks likely to be a challenging game.

Jamie Ramsden, top scorer for Sidley