Petworth Park | Sussex Martlets

Match Report

Our hosts only very occasionally play declaration cricket. This match was a wonderful advert for the genre and Petworth embraced it wholeheartedly.

After PW uncharacteristically won the toss, the Martlets went into bat. Dan Jackson and Willy Boulter`s opening stand of 74 was just what was needed. The gloomy weather, which had been forecast all week, failed to materialise. This pleasant surprise made the lovely sunlit evening even more special.

John Goodacre batted with his usual style for almost an hour, Dean Holden was unlucky with an “interesting” LBW decision.

Scoring freely wasn’t easy, but Ritchie, Savage and Newman continued to chip away. After Nick Beechey`s customary cameo, it was left to Julian Hunt and Mike Murray to add a crucial 50.

After a decent tea, the sobering sight of Richard Iago strolling out to open. That man can certainly bat. But only, on this occasion, for 2 balls. This was thanks to a wonder ball from Hunt.

Thereafter some impressive fielding and further decent bowling. Good quality catches from Beechey, Savage and Ritchie, were only just bettered by sharp grabs from Newman and Jackson.

However, it was only when we dismissed Tom Creed for 74 that a stranglehold could be firmly established.

Thereafter, Jez Wakeford and young Hector Jenkins stood between the Martlets and victory. We had 7 overs to do it and try as they might Murray, Walker and Hunt couldn’t quite tease out the final, crucial dismissal.

And yet, more importantly a nail-biting, exciting, conclusion to a very pleasing day`s cricket had enthralled all present.

Post-match drinks with our hosts, who made us welcome throughout, was the icing on the cake.

Special thanks to Yolanda for her expert scoring, Richard Holden, our umpire, Matt Denham, the Petworth umpire and Alex and Kirah, the Petworth manager and captain respectively.