Runs In The Sun, But Beaten By One

With The Salts showing an unusual warmth, Seaford 3s welcomed the visit of Polegate 2s.

On losing the toss Seaford were asked to bat on a new and flat track even fielding a full eleven this week.

A good steady start from the openers saw an opening partnership of 38 between Jonty Reynolds (104no) and Martin Edmonds (16), Reynolds was then joined by Gavin Wright (15) and they proceeded to take the score to 95 before Wright fell (very amusingly as his wife just arrived and said "oh he is doing ok, thats probably the kiss of death now" and promptly got out next ball). The score was still increasing steadily and when Justin Squires (48) arrived at the crease in the 30th over the score stood at just 113-3. However Justin doing what Justin does, crashed the ball around the park and between him and Jonty Reynolds they put on 92 in 10 overs and enabled Seaford to close on 217-4 with Reynolds completing a very well deserved century in the last over. For Polegate all bowlers were economical early on, but none had an answer for the late blitz.

Jon Reynolds carries his bat for 104 not out

In reply Polegate got off to a steady start, and by drinks had the opening partnership over the 100 mark between Andy Johnson (39) and Steve Hover (114no). Steve amusingly was drafted in as a very late call due to Polegate being short of bowlers. Strangely the first team sent their best batsman instead.....and he barely bowled ! When Johnson finally fell at 119 in the 23rd over the balance was well in Polegates favour, Seaford knew it would take a massive effort to win from here. Justin Squires (3-30) and Steve Hearsey (2-33) were forced to bowl their allocation and although they took wickets at one end, the score going from 119-0 to 178-5, they did all they could but neither could get Steve Hover out. Unfortunately Seaford's back up bowlers had days they would probably rather forget with too many loose balls and way too many wides. With just two overs to go Polegate needed 13, Paul Brown's first ball of the day was hit by Hover to the square leg boundary and was caught right on the line by Dom Weisz, however he was always falling backwards to take it and couldn't stop himself from stepping on the boundary. Although it was right infront of the opposing players, he once again showed his honesty by calling a six. With that though, the game was quickly up and Steve Hover ended up with an excellent century and won the game for Polegate.

A great game played in the right spirit today. In the end one player made the difference.

Seaford 12 pts - Polegate 24 pts