Ardingly College

Sussex Martlets v Ardingly College

Friendly XI at Arundel Castle on 24 April 2025

Ardingly College set 200 runs to win at Arundel Castle

The Sussex Martlets and Ardingly College was the first game of the 2025 cricket season at Arundel Castle Cricket Club, and it didn’t disappoint. In familial rivalry, The Sussex Martlets were captained by former chairman Stuart Ritchie and Ardingly College by his son Matthew. Second ball of the season moved away to take the top of off of Martlet guest Kieran Abrams, straight off the plane from Perth, for a golden duck bowled by Francois Prins.

Our other opener Sam Carter settled the innings and was joined by old Ardinian Jens Richardson before Carter lost his footing and failed to make his ground having sought a quick run.  With the score at 91 for 2, Richardson was joined by Alfie Hunter and between them they added 78 runs before Alfie fell leg before wicket.   For the time of the year, the outfield was slow and understandably the runs being accumulated were less than would normally be expected.  Tom Naish sought to push the run rate along but perished and when Richardson was caught in the covers driving slightly upperish, Ritchie Snr declared on 199 for 5 after 50.3 overs setting our guests 200 to win. Ardingly’s bowlers performed admirably with wickets for Prins, Smith and Record with a run out to Mayall.

The game was on with Ardingly needing circa 5 runs an over to win.  However, Abrams had other ideas, and returned the favour to Prins with the second ball falling leg before wicket.  With Dom Heater bowling from the other end, Ardingly was soon constrained in their run chase. Pressure was building.  Abrams took his second wicket with the other opener Smith also leg before wicket before claiming his third wicket of Mayall with a sharp catch by Sam Carter low and to his right.  Dom Heater, in a tidy spell from the park end, took the wicket of Ritchie Jnr during an 8 over spell for 13 runs.  Abrams and Heater were succeeded by Alfie Hunter and Ryan Trotter who both bowled 9 overs for circa 20 runs each taking 3 wickets between them.  Joe Waylett entered the fray, after a sojourn from Martlets cricket, taking 2 wickets and showing he had lost none of his skills.  Will Wingfield-Digby was unlucky not to take a wicket in his short spell. The star in the field was however Carter with ultimately three sharp catches in the slip cordon.

All of this left Ardingly College 9 down with their tail enders in Packham–Scamardella and Hudson-Clark batting out the final 6 overs to save the game.  The tension amongst the boys was palpable and when the final over bowled by Abrams was complete, much jubilation was experienced by the boys, but there was all round a great sense that the cricket season started well with a fair result to both sides.

Grateful thanks go to Arundel Castle Cricket Club for providing the most fantastic of grounds to play cricket at, and also to the officials of the day both out in the middle and in the score box.

Stuart Ritchie

Scorecard : https://sussexmartlets.play-cricket.com/website/results/6727155

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