Deano Delivers Decisive Blow At The Death

Dean Cooper 20 not out

Seaford 2s welcomed top of the table rivals Tunbridge Wells 3s to the hottest Saturday of the season with temperatures scorching into the 30s. With a tough game in store Seaford skipper Karlos Wootten, back to BAU losing the toss, as expected was asked to have a bowl. With a much changed side Seaford were up for it from the first ball, openers Team Bus Spragg and Where’s The Ground Pitts early in-roads were made, Spragg sending down an absolute nut to take top of the impressive looking E Harwood’s off stump. Pitts then took Shepherdson’s leg stump with a pacey in swinger. Spragg picked up another wicket with the help of a Ben Harvey catch. With the openers given a rest from the searing heat veteran John “ Paddy “ Smith came in to decimate the middle order with a fine spell of 4/46 really making inroads starting with a wicket first ball, then with the help of an excellent piece of glove work from Deano Cooper to stump the solid looking Collard for 21, this reduced the visitors to 72/7.

At the other end Bilesh Jayamanne produced a wonderful spell of 9 overs for just 10 runs really putting the pressure on to help Smith take the wickets. J Ball then came in to turn the innings around with a fine innings full of powerful boundaries. A fine 63* got T Wells up to a total that would prove hard to chase down. Mitch Ellingham, back in the 2nd team fold at last, suffereda facial injury avoiding a deflected chance at first slip early doors didn’t stop Mitch, after running repairs were made he came on to bowl the death overs trapping J Harwood LBW for 9. H Khan came in and played a splendid innings for the last man in, blasting one six into the tennis courts and one onto the rugby pitch, to really finish the innings well for the visitors. Spragg ensured Seaford got max bowling points trapping him LBW in the last over to finish with an impressive 3/46 as the visitors ended on 170.

Seaford’s fielding and bowling was the best it’s been all season even in the scorching heat, great to see the guys up for the pressure game.

Again openers John Reynolds (61) and Rob Gravett (20) set Seaford up with a solid half century stand. Gravett was first to go quickly followed by Weisz LBW to Ball, continuing his good game. This bought in the league’s top run scorer Bilesh Jayamanne (45), these two took the score onto 98 before the heat got the better of Jonty. This bought in Mitch Ellingham, who helped run machine Jayamanne take the score onto 138 before both fell as the run rate dropped, Wells drying up the boundaries with some fine bowling backed by some excellent catching and ground fielding. Seaford now behind the clock and losing wickets looked like they were going to lose their first match of the season. This bought in man of the match all-rounder Dean Cooper, along with Pitts and Spragg, took the game to the wire with some excellent running between the wickets that really set the victory up. A champagne moment six from Deano in the 39th over really setting the last over up, with a run a ball required. Some excellent death bowling from J. Harwood (4-35) took the result to the last ball, three required to win. Deano keeping the watching crowd on the edge of their seats cut the ball away to what looked like a boundary all the way, but a fine bit of fielding stopped the boundary,  hot, but still energy filled Spragg and Cooper scrambled the three runs required to win the game for Seaford off the last ball.

A stunning game of cricket between two very good teams, played in ideal conditions in really competitive mode and the right spirit. We look forward to last game of the season at T Wells.

Great day for Seaford as they extended their points cushion with both second placed team and the rest of the pack behind them. They celebrated with a few cold beers to cool us all down. We now look forward to match day ten as we now start the second round of fixtures with a trip to Crowborough.

Well done all, we raised the levels when we needed to, even the skipper fielded the ball a few times during this game!!!

Scorecard

Author: Karl Wootten