We start our latest preview with a massive opportunity on Sunday 15^th when Wimbledon CC travel to Fulking in the ECB National Cup.  Most people that I have spoken to have said ‘ Wimbledon are very strong’  Let’s see.

Sunday 15^th May. Wimbledon CC at the SCMG North Square  1pm start  40 overs each team.   ECB Group 15.

Just to put some context to the competition there are 16 groups around the country.  A team needs to win four and in some cases like ours with the aid of a bye three straight games to get out of the group stage.  If you do you are then part of the last 16 and then the fun really starts.

Wimbledon started the comp with a hugely significant win over Beckenham on 1^st May 2022.  They won the toss and elected to field.  Jonathan Speller took four for 37 and Benjamin Twine took two for 23, the standout bowlers, as Beckenham faltered to 157 all out.  Finn Bryan then scored a quick 75 up top to take the tie in just 28 overs.

They were at it again on 7^th May when beating Malden in the Surrey Prem.   Electing to field they bowled Malden for 164 with Twine in the wickets once more.  Nicholas Welch then scored 77 not out to take all 20 points on offer. 

Yep, they do seem to be very strong!

Why not get out to Fulking for 1pm to cheer the boys on.

Sussex League on Saturday 14^th May 2022.

Navin takes charge of his 1^st League away game as the team travel to Three Bridges for an 11.30am start 50 over game. Sussex Prem.  Of course, we enjoyed a brilliant start to the campaign with that win over Eastbourne.    Three Bridges meanwhile were in a high scoring game at Middleton. The hosts, with a Mahesh Rawat ton, scored 279 for 8.  Bridges had their own centurion in James Russell but it wasn’t enough as they came up 70 runs short.   

James and our twos will be looking to bounce back from an opening day defeat when Crawley Eagles travel to the SCMG North Square.   Sussex Div Three  12.30pm start 45 overs per team.   It was a pure run fest last Saturday as Seaford scored 259 for 7.  The Eagles with a ton from Tanveer then picked them off with two overs to spare 7 down.  

Faisal leads the threes to Hove Rec to face Palmers in Div 7 Central 1pm start 40 overs a side. Its always a tough place to go get a result and they started well with a convincing win at the Nevill.  Palmers scored 211 with a half century from Minar Uddin and then bowled Brighton for 133.  Arshad Mahmood with four wickets and Nugent Brown two for just 8 runs off 8 overs.  Can our threes make it two wins from two?

Stephen Oliver  4s skipper, told me this week that it was a lot of fun at Colemans Hatch where Mike Burney went on to score 180 runs to win the game.  Hopefully that feel good factor can continue when St Matthias turn up on the South Square for a 1pm start Division 8  40 overs a side. Our visitors will desperately be looking for a real confidence booster after losing two games already this season.  Last Saturday they mustered 145 for 9 with runs shared around.  Bolney secured an easy win with the opener scoring 64 not out.  Ashley Smith the pick of bowlers 1 for 34 off nine overs.   

There you have it, five massive matches to get our teeth into.  Please watch out coverage through our media channels.  The main thread will come from Hove Rec where I will be cheering on the Threes from mid day on Saturday and then from home on Sunday from 1pm.

Let’s Go Nomads!

Cobo