Old Hurstjohnians

Sussex Martlets vs Old HurstJohnians

Hurstpierpoint College, Friday 8th August

The idyllic setting of Hurstpierpoint College played host to a cricketing drama that ebbed and flowed right until the final ball, as the Sussex Martlets and Old HurstJohnians served up a contest brimming with runs, resilience, and the odd touch of farce.

Winning the toss, Old Hurst elected to field first and immediately set about building a restricting Martlets to a chasable total on a dry, turning wicket. George Read opened proceedings with an elegant yet brisk 90 from 89 deliveries, his innings laced with classical cuts and some beautiful shots over the ropes back over the bowler’s head. At the other end, D. Rebbetts took full advantage of the fine batting surface, compiling a composed (slow, some would say) yet assertive 102* from 124 balls. Jordan Shaw then added his trademark fireworks, bludgeoning 50 from just 34 balls to push the total towards something imposing.

Not all was smooth, however. Rebbetts’ innings began in the midst of a mini-collapse — three wickets had fallen in the space of five balls, requiring him to stride out in rather more of a hurry than he’d have liked. Nonetheless, the Martlets declared at 298 for 8 after 53 overs, a move that would later prove to be the exact number of overs Old Hurst would get in return. Not his first game as Match manager.

The Old HurstJohnians’ reply started poorly, and at 133 for 8 the contest seemed all but over as Ben Whelpton spun his usual web in his way to 4/61 off 19 overs. However, George Read had other ideas, now in the field and no doubt wishing the ground would swallow him whole after shelling not one, not two, but four catches — each one getting funnier and more unbelievable as today’s catching does not fit the usual outstanding profile. As if to twist the knife, number 10 bat Batchelor unleashed one of the great counter-attacks, smashing an extraordinary 102* from 82 balls. At the other end, captain Brehaut provided the anchor, grinding out 33 from 82 deliveries to hold the innings together.

Against all odds, Hurst reached 270 for 9 from their 53 overs, the last pair denying Martlets the win. Cricket’s strange sense of poetic justice came full circle the very next day, when Read — fresh from his quartet of drops — responded with a scintillating century in league cricket. I thought I had to mention this, just to confirm George did not quit cricket immediately after the game.

The match wasn’t short of off-field drama either. Martlets were reduced to 10 men for the entire second innings after Brad Payne was forced to leave at the halfway mark, struck down by illness — though mercifully still in possession of clean whites, if you catch the drift.

In the end, honours were shared, but the memories will be vivid: a game is never over until it’s over, a rearguard to defy belief, and the eternal truth that cricket always finds a way to surprise.

Darryl Rebbetts