Another club game was played out at Horsdean this year and ended in thrilling fashion with it going right down to the last ball.

It was to be a 15 over affair with 8 players a side, with teams captained by Simon Wood and Joe Gatford. With Joe Gatford's team batting first striving to give their captain the honours of lifting the Olly Barry Shield come the end of the season, they opted for an opening partnership of Geoff Bailey and Rich Hall. Simon Wood's team got off to the better start after both openers were dismissed as well as number three Alan Malby with wickets being shared between Stringer, Brooks and Kidman. Matt Wood came in and reached 20(which was the retirement score quickly by hitting some fairly poor bowling off Simon wood. Wickets tumbled but Gatford's team got themselves up to a decent score with one mention going to Jamie Will who hit an enormous six off League bowler Jake Brooks. In truth Gatford's team owed a lot to Jamie for batting out some of the other whilst still scoring at a solid rate. They reached a score of 115 with Matt Wood top scoring with 22 and Jake Brooks the pick of the bolwers with 2 wickets for 7 runs off 2 overs.

A quick turnaround was made with Simon opening up with Andy and Jake which looked steady and solid even if Jake was sometimes stunned by the amount of turn that Alan was getting out of the pitch. Andy was bowled by captain Gatford and Jake out to a catch from Matt Wood off the bowling of star bowler Rich(Juan)Hall who tested Jake's offside game. Gatford's team were cruising to victory until some dubious wide calling by umpire Lawson swung the game back in Simon's favour as well as some good hitting by Harry Bailey and Nick Nutsford Hollands who both retired, one shot in particular from Nick which was reminiscent of Joe Root as he spanked a cover drive off Rich Hall. 10 runs were needed off the last over to win but only 9 were taken after some questionable keeping from Liam Geary as well as some not so great bowling by Matt Wood.

A super over was discussed but it was too dark for anything to happen which means even more emphasis on next years result. Thanks to everyone who turned up as well as Ruth Norman who put on food for the players after the game.

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