Saturday June 12th: Sidley 1st XI v. Hastings and St. Leonards Priory 3rd XI

HASTINGS PRIORY 3rd XI  202-7 (30pts)

SIDLEY 1st XI  188 (11pts)

SIDLEY Cricket Club's first team suffered a second successive narrow defeat, losing by 14 runs at home to Hastings Priory thirds. Steve Ramsden's side remain top of 1st Central Sussex Cricket League Division 11 East (South), but their advantage has been cut to just 10 points.

After Sidley won the toss and elected to field on a glorious afternoon at Sandhurst Recreation Ground, Priory posted 202-7 from their 40 overs. Their score was built around half-centuries from Scott Woodroffe - a former Sidley captain during their days much higher up the league ladder - and Sameera Dissanayke.

Three Ramsden wickets reduced Priory from 36-0 to 51-3 and a couple more for the in-form Hollie Young later left the visitors 94-5 after 27 overs. But Woodroffe was still going strong at the other end and a sixth wicket partnership of 67 with Dissanayke set Priory on their way to a decent score.

Although Woodroffe was run out by Cavan O'Connor for a classy 68, Dissanayke went on to finish 57 not out as Priory passed the 200 mark despite a wicket for Amie Anderson in the final over.

Sidley fell to 16-2 in reply before good knocks from Ramsden (33), Young (23), Chris Hunnisett (24) and Josh Bull (29) brought the home side right back into it. In fact, things were looking good for Sidley as Hunnisett and Bull forged a fifth wicket stand of 45 to take them to 141-4 in the 25th over. Three wickets then fell for 20 runs, though, and despite cameos from Paul Johnson (14) and Craig Ramsden (10), Sidley were all out for 188 in 37.2 overs. The last five Sidley wickets were claimed by Priory under-14 pair Freddie Hensher (4-15 from 4.2 overs) and Sam Osmond (2-27). Jack Bounsall (2-31) and under-13 Seb Osmond (1-49) were Priory's other wicket-takers, while Bounsall also executed the crucial run out of Steve Ramsden.

Sidley's matchball sponsor was sports retailer Wisdens.

* Sidley's second team lost by 141 runs away to Willingdon thirds in Division 12 East (South).

Sidley were all out for 39 in reply to Willingdon's 180-7. Lawrie Wray was Sidley's most successful bowler with 4-21 from nine overs, Trevor Ramsden took 2-28 and there was also a wicket for Mark Gransden.