Roffey show good signs in easing to 10-wicket cup win

Although a week before their Premier Division title defence starts, Matt Davies’ side showed positive signs as they booked their place in the third round of the Gray-Nicholls T20 Cup.

In his first game in charge, the wicketkeeper was satisfied with a fairly routine victory in the cup competition.

Davies said: “We started really well and were on top and maintained that, which is what we had to do.

“It was a mixture of good bowling and good fielding as well as some bad batting from them, really.

“It’s a game when you have got nothing to gain, so I was pretty pleased with a pretty professional display.

“Rohit (Jagot) bowled well, he always does in limited overs. He keeps the run rate down, the pressure builds and they give away wickets.

“Everyone bowled well, Leigh Harrison and Luke Barnard and Alex Collins finished them off at the end.”

Having won the toss, Roffey inserted their hosts and proceeded to bowl them out for just 75. Three early wickets from Rohit Jagota (4-11) saw Lindfield in trouble at 9-2 and then 24-3 as Geoffrey Lawrence (11) was the only one to make double figures.

He was just one of three from the home side to pass ten runs all afternoon as only Declan Martel (15) and Phil Weir (11) made contributions.

Leigh Harrison claimed 1-17, George Fleming took 1-14 and Alex Collins chipped in with 2-1 at the death, leaving the home side all out with three balls remaining in the final over.

Roffey had little pressure in their reply with captain Davies believing 140 to 150 would have been a par score on the wicket and knocked the total off the loss of just one wicket.

Usman Khan was given the opportunity to get bat on ball and promoted up the order and he made an unbeaten 25.

Fellow opener Jagota was the only casualty, bowled by Tem Hodson for 18 with the 35 showing on the scoreboard.

New overseas, Australian Liam Gibson came in at three and produce a top-score of 32 to ease them to 79-1 in 11 overs.

Davies added: “He looks a good player and is a great lad, so will fit in well. He had a decent innings on Saturday, which was good before the league starts.”

The victory sees Roffey through to battle out for a place in the quarter-finals. They travel to Division 2 side St James’s on June 5.

Roffey start the league season away to Cuckfield on Saturday, before an early-season derby against Horsham on Sunday. They face off at Roffey in the second round of the ECB National Club Championship.

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