St James Seniors | Sussex Martlets

Match Report

For 2026 this was an exceptional fixture in two ways – first, there was a plethora of players meaning we could mount 12-a-side, with St. James taking two Martlets into their ranks: secondly, inclement weather played a part. In the early morning, showers waterlogged the main pitch at St. James, meaning that a decision was made to move to the second square – but that meant delaying the start as summer camp activities were ongoing until 2 p.m. Liaison throughout with Russell Piper and Neil Bushell was excellent and we got underway with a 35 over a side game, Martlets taking the field first with a team of 9 bowlers and 3 batsmen !
However, you wouldn’t have thought so as St. James’s Yash Tyagi, Joe Naughalty and Navneet Verma all compiled unbeaten 50s and retired (that being the rule) – the sole early inroad made by Fergus O’Meara, who bowled beautifully. Joe looked particularly comfortable, hitting 54 in 39 balls, including three 6s. Our young guest Tom Cullen looked dangerous, bowling off a short run, quicker as time went on, driving keeper Steve Lovell back a few yards – however Tom was wicketless, as was Jeremy McGahan (unlucky not to have a stumping chance go his way early on) and even veteran experts Paul Lack and Derek Horsham – victims of a good batting pitch and effective swinging through the line. It took the introduction of Paul Walker to grab a couple of wickets (one being Howard, Martlet, caught for a duck by yours truly, just !) and then Dan Jackson bowled tidily without result: Alan Leeks closed the innings from one end, Steve taking two smart legside stumpings.
The teams then repaired to the pavilion for a scrumptious tea prepared by Neil Bushell, a strong contender for “tea of the season” – many thanks to Neil who was up early making sandwiches so that no one, not even faithful supporter and reserve bowler Tom Whyte, went hungry !
The St. James total at 244-5 looked formidable and so it proved. A golden duck in the second over did not help (it came off my bat so sweetly to mid-wicket !), but Dan Jackson and Ian Pinnock both batted well against some testing bowling – Dan reached 50 and was out before he could be called in to retire, while Ian retired with 54 in 54 balls, a great effort. At 119-3, when Dan was out, Martlets were going fine but unfortunately our two young men failed to fulfil their early promise, James Walker unluckily skying one when he looked in good nick. Poor Steve Lovell then collected a duck, and it was left to the old pros, Walker senior (13) and Horsham (18) to add some respectability to the effort. Jeremy McGahan scored a useful 11* and Martlets finished at 173-8, a mere 71 short !!
Never mind, it was a very happy day and many thanks to our long-established and always hospitable opponents, St. James Montefiore, especially Russell Piper and Neil Bushell. Also, to Umpire John Coleman and scorer Roger Lusted, the vitally important match officials. We shall return.