Cuckfield Cricket Club: News: Match Report Template

Cuckfield won a vital toss on a very wet day with the pitch looking good but a touch soft. Patterson (2-25) opted to bowl and burst into the Lewes line-up with the dismissals of both openers, but at 36-2 Lewes' West Indian duo of Jaggernauth & Augustus began to rebuild. Jaggernauth looked in control of things until a lapse in concentration saw him run past one of Piolet's deliveries to be stumped for 25. Piolet then rattled through the rest of the Lewes team with the assistance of Ajmal. Both picking up 4 wickets a-piece. A late flurry from Aspden got the Lewes total up to 90 before he was last to fall.

Cuckfield lost an early wicket to the in-form Walters but Widdup settled nerves with some drives Jaggernauth would have been proud of. It was Jaggernauth who managed to curtail Widdup's run spree on 28 which sparked a mini collapse. 46-2 changed quickly to 55-5 and then the teams broke for tea. Cuckfield's Tom Mole and James Robinson then weighed anchor to come to terms with some tight bowling on a slow pitch. When Robinson plundered 2 sixes off Murray (3-25) the game was effectively sealed. Murray trapped Mole LBW with the scores level and then Robinson helped Cuckfield over the line.

Tom Mole - 24/07/2007

Cuckfield followed their county’s lead and make it into the semi-final of the inaugural Sussex League 20/20 cup. Entertaining Billingshurst at Cuckfield Park on Sunday the home team won the toss and elected to bowl. Fresh off the back of a hard fought win on Saturday, the Cuckfield team came out fighting and took two early wickets, one a piece for Candfield and Thorpe. However, Robin (61) and Burroughs (33) dug in and added 96 runs before Robin was caught spectacularly by Kristian Piolet off the bowling of skipper Nick Patterson with the score on 115 for 3. After their 20 overs, Cuckfield had restricted Billingshurst to 150 for 5, the remaining wickets falling to Ajmal and Piolet.

A score of 150, while competitive, would prove no match for Cuckfield’s explosive batting line-up. Steff Piolet, who was on a pair, opened the batting with Billy Harris and soon put the duck to bed. They made it look easy, striking the ball to all parts and took the score to 102 before Harris (26) fell to Louther giving Billingshurst their only wicket of the day. Piolet (who had already racked up 65 runs) was joined by Jason Oates who proceeded to pulverise the bowling showing no mercy, striking 42 runs off 15 balls including six sixes. Piolet carried his bat for 67 off 54 balls including seven fours and one six. Cuckfield wrapping up the innings in just 15.2 overs.

Cuckfield travel to Preston Nomads on Monday 27^th August for finals day where they will take on East Grinstead in a semi final. Eastbourne take on Steyning in the other semi-final, with the final being played later the same afternoon.

Cuckfield 2nd XI had an exciting drawn game against St James on Saturday which came down to the last over with St James eventually being 12 runs short of their target with 9 wickets down.

Cuckfield lost the toss and were invited to bat on a very wet wicket. Batting was very difficult and after a sticky start Cuckfield batted with great application to reach 171 all out. For Cuckfield Jack Waghorn stood head and shoulders above any other batsmen, dispaying great application and excellent shot selection in a well compiled 68. On any other wicket this would have surely been worth a hundred? There were also excellent supporting contributions from Mirza, Middleton and Denyer.

By the time that St James came to bat, the wicket had dried out considerably and batting was a great deal easier. St James were able to score runs more freely and keep wickets in hand. With 4 overs to go St James required 32 with 5 wickets in hand. Some excellent bowling from Goff Baker, Jack Denyer and towards the end Tom Flower, created enough pressure to force mistakes from the St James batsmen and at the end of the 46th over St James needed 14 to win with 2 wickets in hand. Cuckfield took one more wicket before St James shut up shop with 12 still needed.

Overall Cuckfield were unlucky to lose the toss but battled well to try and force a win against the odds.

After last week's setback against Bolney, Cuckfield Thirds returned to winning ways with a great team performance on Saturday. On a low slow pitch Balcombe Seconds were inserted and fine seam bowling from Collins and Hardy (6-54) backed up by Davy and Wisdom saw the home side dismissed for 184, skipper Alan Smith batting well for 51.

Despite losing regular opener Crampton to the Seconds Emery (a patient and magnificent 72 not out) and the entertaining Waghorn (45) steadied the ship before Davy hit an explosive 32 not out winning the game with a beautifully timed six as the overs ran out.

A top of the table clash with Clayton awaits them this week as they push for an immediate return to Division One.

David Chaffey - 24/07/2007

Despite a morning of rain Cuckfield 4th XI managed to complete it’s fixture against Keymer & Hassocks. Cuckfield won the all important toss, opted to bowl, and soon took wickets despite the stubborn resistance of Ross Watkins who scored a watchful 36 before being trapped LBW by Tim Lynch. Having dismissed Keymer & Hassocks for 86, Cuckfield lost an early wicket to the excellent bowling of Nigel Hartley (3 for 35) but some big hitting from Iain Pringle (51 not out) saw Cuckfield home in 26.1 overs.

Match Reports - 21st July

Men's

Women's

Colts