v Pagham

On a gloriously sunny and warm day at the Nev Super Dome, the 2nd XI kicked off the new league campaign against Pagham. With the new skipper winning the toss and electing to bowl first there was a mixed start with Mo Brazil looking dangerous from the pavilion end, and the new ball spin bowling of Jon Goldstraw troubling the Pagham overseas, newly arrived from Australia. However, the step up in standard from purely 2nd XIs last season showed, with the Pagham openers punishing any loose deliveries. Mo picked up his first County League wicket, with a fine delivery that the Pagham opener drove to backward point. This brought the man of the Pagham innings to the crease, who then batted superbly to score a fluent 94 before being dismissed by an excellent leg-side stumping by the returning Kurt John off the bowling of Ahbi. A good comeback from the 2s meant that we regularly picked up wickets, including a stunning catch by Gappy George to remove the overseas, meaning that the 2’s picked up maximum bowling points with Ahbi taking the last wicket with an over and a ball to spare, leaving the Skipper stranded with 4 for, and Pagham 241 all out.

After an excellent spread at tea, including much to Jo’s chagrin some scones, the 2’s started their reply through the evergreen Martyn Ford and league debutant Duncan Jenkinson. After a glorious shot through cover for Fordy, he got unlucky to one that kept very low to be dismissed for 5, before Duncan stroked a beautiful cover drive straight to the fielder in the ring leaving the 2s 24-2. After a mini-recovery three quick wickets left us struggling at 63-5 before the best partnership of the match for the Bensons between Ahbi (43) and Kurt (31*) took the score to 121-6. Unfortunately, the last 4 wickets fell for just 27 runs, leaving Kurt stranded after an excellent knock on his return to the side. This meant a 91 run defeat, although the score doesn’t reflect the state of the game, with a one innings being the difference between the two sides.

A frustrating start to the season, but some positives particularly the fielding with some good catches taken, against a team who will be up there for promotion back to Division 2.

Brighton & Hove CC 2nd XI Lost by 91 runs Pagham CC 1st XI
146 all out
Abhi Khilare 43
Kurt John 31* 239 all out
Fergus Guppy 4-39
Dave Mates 2-30