Serious injury to Jon Morris over-shadows Crescent-Greys encounter.

Our old friends The Mighty Greys arrived at Horsdean after their usual Sunday lunchtime warm up in the Public Bar of The Constant Service for our normal hard fought encounter. Sunday will however not be remembered for the spirited Crescent reply in chasing a large total but the sight of Jon Morris being stretchered away in an ambulance after fracturing and dislocating his leg in the act of trying to prevent a boundary. The ambulance took some time to arrive and Jon was in quite serious pain which he took with his usual pragmatic and stoic outlook. Many thanks to all from both clubs for the calm and thoughtful way that the situation was dealt with.

As far as the cricket went the afternoon’s entertainment was one of the closer and more entertaining games of the season and would on other days be one for future discussion even though we ultimately lost by 14 runs with the result still in doubt until then end.
In the field the Crescent perhaps bowled too many 4 balls and The Greys openers got our opponents off to a flying start until with the score on 73 Martin Watts accounted for the pugnacious Biff Line for 37 with the score at 76 midway through the 13th over. Simon Wood created some chances but also could not sustain a period of total control that we need to rein the score back into manageable proportions. Rich Hall and Jamie Will also tried hard to turn the tide but the score with short boundaries and a quicker than usual outfield never slipped below 6 an over.

Matt Lawson and especially Max Kidman gave us more control and it was fairly clear that if we had taken some of the early chances, the middle and latter batsmen were not of the same talent. Jerry Brasher batted well for his 98 but a number of chances drifted just over or just wide of fielders and with a couple of close stumpings and run outs he made the most of his afternoon. It was perhaps Ashton’s 46 which took the game that little too far away from us.

Tea was taken with Jon Morris on his way to the Royal Sussex it was a little quieter than normal. In chasing 228 to win in 38 overs a good start was important and after Max Kidman clouted the third ball of the innings some distance over mid wicket things were looking up. However Kieron Lind ( 0 ) fell to the fifth ball of the innings 7-1 and our victory target seemed more than tricky.

Max Kidman ( 85 ) batted with increasing maturity to match his undoubted talent and strength and with Matty Wood ( 23 ) as company they added 93 in 16 overs to give the good ship Crescent a bright platform. The running between the wickets was excellent which was starting to put much pressure on the bowlers and fielders.

Liam Geary ( 41 ) in his first match of the season then joined Max and the score ticked along at a good old rate with Liam struggling at first but Max continuing to find the boundary. Max was finally yorked with a century again in his sights but it was a fine innings and one he should be proud of. Liam started to find the middle of the bat and he is a dangerous customer and with the rate always around 6 an over it was anyone’s game. Nick Hollands and Mat Lawson both fell without adding much to the pursuit but Liam was going well and it was wickets rather than runs that was proving the problem. Liam and Jamie Will added 42 in even time before Liam chipped into the outfield, Andy Bousfield ( 0 ) quickly followed as did Martin Watts ( 0 ) brilliantly run out we still need 21 from 3 overs. Simon Wood (5*) clattered a boundary and scampered a single before Jamie Will ( 14) missed a straight one and was LBW.

17 balls to go and 16 to win. Rich Hall strode to the wicket. His first ball was gently pushed back to Burgess. The next ball was shorter of length and Rich caught it right in the middle of the bat and the ball sailed towards the deep mid wicket boundary. At one point it seemed as though 6 vital runs were in the bag before the trajectory faded and a fine catch was taken right by the flags.

Cool beers were shared, tea was polished off and Sunday cricket was certainly appreciated by all those that took part. Let’s hope it is not too long before Jon Morris can take part again.