Sussex Martlets 2 May 2022

Manager Clive Ricks

Match Drawn

SOA 170 for 6 (Alex Wildman 101 retired )

Sussex Martlets 68 for 7

St Hugh’s School kindly rescued the first SOA fixture of the year by hosting the match at very short notice. The manager’s aim of fielding an entire 60+ side was scuppered by a back injury and his own positive Covid test on the morning of the match! This turned out to be a blessing in disguise as the President took over the reins and, having seen the early loss of both openers, he set about the Martlets bowling with a relish.

Alex’s third wicket partnership with Steve Partington was worth 58 when Steve was run out for 4. When Alex retired unbeaten on 101, his innings containing seventeen 4s and two 6s, the team total was 148. After a late flurry from Ajit Shah, the declaration came at 170-7 from 40.4 overs.

The Sussex Martlets, playing their third tour game in three days, never got to grips with the accurate SOA attack and all bar one of their batsmen were bowled, two by Richard Cook in the same over. Despite two wickets for Ajit Shah and Adrian Manger’s miserly 1-1 from eight overs, the SOA couldn’t winkle out the last pair and the visitors totalled 68 from their 37 overs.

President Wildman’s personal tally exceeded the total of the next eight highest scoring batsmen in the match, so the MoM decision was not particularly taxing!

Thanks to all the players, to Richard Grover for scoring and to Bob Belcher for umpiring after his thirty months in exile ‘down under’.

Clive Ricks

Match Manager (missing in action)