Saturday 11th June wont go down as one of our finest if we are honest. As eluded to before Faisal and the Threes enjoyed a victory at Hurstpierpoint but the other three Senior teams were dealt a blow.
Nathan Poole graced the SCMG with a glorious ton against East Grinstead but it wasn’t enough as the 1st team lost ground in the Sussex Premier League. Two’s traveled to Crowhurst in Div 3 but were undone by not scoring enough runs. James thought it was a disappointing result.
4s fall into the Div 8 relegation zone as Streat won on the South Square. There was better news for the Twos on Sunday after progression in the Sussex T20 Trophy
Its still early days in the Sussex League but you feel that we really do need around 12 wins in the next four weeks to get us back on track.

Nathan Poole Ton Not Enough at the SCMG 11th June

Nav Wants More From the Bat as EG chase 200. Sussex Prem.

Saturday saw the 1st XI take on table toppers East Grinstead in the 1st Red ball time cricket match of the season.
I won the toss and batted hoping to pile on the runs in order to try and control the game in the second innings.
Unfortunately a few poor shot selections at key moments in our innings halted any momentum meaning we were never quite able to get in the drivers seat to post a substantial score.
Nathan Poole batted tremendously and carried his bat throughout our whole 58 over innings scoring 117 and forming the base of our eventual total of 199.
I think this was 50/60 below where we should’ve got to.
Against one of the best batting line ups in the league we bowled fantastically well and had great energy in the field pushing EG the whole way. We made it tough for them to score and this showed with them eventually getting the target in the 50th over with only 2 overs left in the day.
A good effort by the guys but in the end more application needs to be showed by our batsman as Nathan showed us on Saturday.
Looking forward to taking on Roffey in their own backyard this Saturday!

By Navin P.

Straight Ones Missed at Crowhurst.

Two’s Fall in Division Three

We were collectively very late to Crowhurst Park, who sportingly agreed a 15 min later start as Ollie’s flight was delayed in the morning. But it wasn’t to bode well. We won the toss and chose to bat, but only ever half did.

Too many of us missed straight ones, not resolute in defence, occasionally lapse in attack and GCB was just unfortunate. Credit to CPCC, they bowled v good areas. Highlights were Kash, who timed it imperiously, but struggled with his knee which meant he missed out on running a few between the wickets, before failing to get one over cover, top scoring with 37, Baalaaj after surviving a few skiers, settled in and took the fight to the oppo, before picking out long on for 32, and, the final pairing of Adam Ibrahim and Stu Pulford added 28, untroubled. Adam’s 18* probably the pick of the innings – he’s absolutely tiny, but he’s just a joy to watch, scoring all round the wicket and utterly untroubled as the oppo seamers tried to fire it up. 178/9 was not close to par, so we’d have to bowl well and, particularly, start well.

We didn’t. Stu Pulford pulling up injured at the end of the first over, meant our experienced seamer was to make no impact. Chris Borsoi did a reasonable job in his stead, but we turned to spin with too many runs conceded and no wickets taken. When Baalaaj did get us started with a classic Baalaaj lbw to remove Bradley Payne for a swift (and well made) 68, the score was already on 106. We never really got it back under control, though wickets were collected by Baalaaj (2/56), Adam Ibs (1/12) and Felix (1/26), who found a filthy yorker to start his second spell to open his 2nd team league account on league debut.

Special mention to Adam for a fairly faultless display with bat and ball, and removing the overseas, deceiving him in the flight… an over after his Dad dropped him off his bowling at cover!

CPCC aren’t a bad unit at all (as well as a good bunch of lads with a nice ground), but I feel we really didn’t give a good enough account of ourselves here. A disappointing defeat. Back to it next week.

Two Progress in Sussex T20 Trophy

Too Strong for Plumpton

Sunday was a bit easy, but we can only play what’s in front of us. And Plumpton have a batter or two up top that were dealt with by Zayn (2/5) and Ziggy (2/2). Particularly their skipper who was beautifully nicked off by Zayn and v well caught by Joe low, scooped in his right hand. Proper. Got a bit silly later, but we still bowled good areas and Adam was good value for his 3.

Batting wise, the game was faultlessly closed out by Baalaaj (30) and Adam (7).

By James M

Jim’s Sporting Life Rub Down Couldn’t Prevent 4s Loss

Streat Pick up SCMG Win Div 8

Lovely day for cricket, teas at the SCMG what more could you ask for?
Runs, Wickets and points would be my first ask!
Anyway Streat and Westmeston turned up as the team below us in the league and without a win, just what the A Doctors ordered(actually he also ordered more runs, wickets and points)
We fielded first and very well I must say, Symsey blinded them with all the tricks he has up his sleeve( big sleeves) he bowled 4 straight maidens and ended up with 1 for 23.
Adam bowled with some venom at the other end but for all his efforts was wicketless.
Luke also bowled well without reward
The Hick( no S) bowled unusually from the Pavilion end for more control which worked as he got a great 3 for 44 and a run out attempt from Billy Whizz(James Oliver) which was 6 inches away from a discount vasectomy!
Young Tate threw himself at a viscous half volley, stopped it but after breaking his thumb a few weeks back knew the symptoms and went off for a hand ice bath.
Danny then got a couple of wickets which gave us hope.
Then Captain S Oliver DSM ECB Bar asked me if I would field for 20 overs and go back to umpiring for our innings, well have kit will travel, I dutifully agreed.
A fantastic run out by Adam.
A great catch by Danny.
Then Bowled Hick Caught Sub!!!!
I want my stats on Play Cricket, but to no avail as they disappear into the ether.
Not a bad catch either.
We kept it tight but their opener scored an unbeaten 81 and we went into team having let them notch up a few to many at 189 for 7.
Tea glorious Tea which was fabulous(thanks to the tea team)
The 2 James(Downey and Oliver) opened, Billy Whizz was unlucky to be out early, but I possibly blame the fact that he covered the whole of the south ground in covering for us old slow guys.
Charlie came in and was a great anchor in assisting Jim in starting to get amongst the bowlers.
Now those of you who have played with Jim, understand that running twos is something he would rather not do, as calves and hamstrings can be pulled.
In this case it was a calf.
He retired at 61
Charlie got 21
Kingsley was out
Captain O struggled
Adam hit a quick 23
Jim came back in after a quick rub down with the Sporting Life but was well caught for 67
We struggled to keep up the run rate
Luke and Tate(finger in gloves so all good)tried their best but it wasn’t enough.
We ended up on 162 for 8 after our 40 overs.
The team remains upbeat as all areas of the game were close and watch out Bolney next week.

By Andy Garth