Saturday May 29th: Sidley 1st XI v. Little Common Ramblers 3rd XI

LITTLE COMMON RAMBLERS 3rd XI 109-9 (7pts)

SIDLEY 1st XI 113-6 (28pts)

SIDLEY Cricket Club's first team extended its winning start to the season to four matches with a four-wicket victory at home to Little Common Ramblers thirds. The result put Sidley 47 points clear at the top of 1st Central Sussex Cricket League Division 11 East (South), albeit having played a game more than some of their pursuers.

With the sun making a welcome appearance following all the early-season rain, Sidley restricted Ramblers to 109-9 from their 40 overs after choosing to field.

Ramblers made steady progress to 32-1 before losing three wickets for 10 runs. A period of rebuilding followed only for wickets six and seven to fall with the score 83, including top-scorer Delroy Reid for 26. Two further wickets left Ramblers 101-9, although they did manage to bat out their overs and deny Sidley full bowling points.

All six Sidley bowlers picked up wickets. Steve Ramsden took 2-14, Amie Anderson 2-17 and Hollie Young 2-26, while Craig Ramsden, and debutants Azizul Hoque and Ali Khan claimed one apiece.

Although Harvey Jack struck a fairly early blow for Ramblers after tea, Steve Ramsden blasted a rapid 50 and dominated a second-wicket partnership of 60 to put Sidley firmly on course.

Sidley subsequently slid from 75-1 to 100-6 as Ramblers fought back well, but Khan (19 not out) played some nice attacking shots and took the home side over the winning line with Hoque.

For Ramblers, Jack finished with 3-48, and there was a wicket each for Reid, Vishal Makin and Phil Jack. Steve Brook conceded just 10 runs from his nine overs.

* Harry Little made a splendid 82 with the bat as Sidley's second team pulled off a fine 79-run win away to Rye thirds in Division 12 East (South).

Little's highest score for the club helped Sidley total 173-4 batting first. He also forged a partnership of 120 with Dave Coveney (40 not out).

Sidley then bowled Rye out for 94 in 38.1 overs, with six different bowlers claiming wickets. Mark Gransden took 3-22, Trevor Ramsden 2-12, Jahangir Rahman 2-20, Paul Oxborrow 1-4, Ryan Polton 1-7 and Trevor Stanley 1-10.

The result lifted Sidley up to third in the table.