August Cup: Early success for Roffey but Horsham have work to do

Roffey made a winning start to the Sussex Cricket League's new August Cup - but there was a false start for Horsham
Rohit JagotaRohit Jagota
Rohit Jagota

Roffey 310-8 (40 overs) Middleton 238-7 (40 overs) - Roffey won 72 runs

In perfect summer weather, a large, cricket-starved home crowd were treated to a vintage Roffey performance. Batting first after success at the toss,

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Roffey posted a commanding score and then bowled and fielded Middleton out of the game.

Roffey openers Theo Rivers and Rohit Jagota were soon in control, with Rivers driving sweetly through the offside, four boundaries coming in the sixth over. But, after Rivers was undone by a loss of concentration, Mike Norris soon went and Roffey were 59-2.

Jagota and skipper Matt Davies batted fluently, briskly posting an entertaining 160-run third wicket partnership, clearing the ropes ten times between them.

After Davies was trapped LBW for 90, chairman Josh Fleming accompanied Jagota with a cameo 37, Jagota’s classic, languid 124 including 12 fours and six sixes, taking Roffey to an unassailable 310-8 at the end of their 40 overs.

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Middleton looked short of bowling and occasional fielding lapses gave batsmen extra lives and contributed some generous boundaries.

Middleton needed to score at almost eight an over, and they were missing Jack Carlson on Sussex duty, and even more crucially, IPL’s Mahesh Rawat, locked down in Delhi.

Much depended on captain Sean Heather, formerly on Sussex’s books, and at 144-1 with Heather batting assuredly, the visitors were well placed. Leigh Harrison bowled Heather for 74, and though Matthew Reynolds made 53 and Joe de la Fuente 35, Roffey turned the screw with the run rate mounting.

James Pearce and Jamie Atkins generated good pace, and subsequent wickets for Rivers – backed up by two outfield catches by Sam Henderson - and teenage debutant Will Fenwick, worked their way through the Middleton line-up, for a 72-run win.

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Delighted Roffey skipper Matt Davies said: “It was a good wicket and fast outfield, and 200 from our top four set the tone for us. We had a great mix of youth and experience on show today and it was excellent to get our cup campaign off to a winning start.”

Ton-up Jagota quipped: “That’s me done for the season!” but watchers of Sussex league cricket know that almost certainly won’t be the case.

On Saturday, Roffey are on the road to Brighton & Hove,.

Horsham 84 all out (27.5 overs) - Brighton & Hove 85-3 (17 overs) – Brighton & Hove won by 7 wickets

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On a windy day at the Nevill Sports Ground, Horsham elected to bat but soon regretted it, with Chris Atherton – brother of the former England captain - making early breakthroughs, from which Horsham never fully recovered.

After Atherton had dismissed both openers, caution was the watchword and progress was slow. Atherton took another wicket, and Horsham’s young middle and lower order were fully tested by the hosts’ impressive exponents of the helpful wicket – Atherton, Simon Hetherton and Matthew Wood.

The trio took six for 58 in 21 overs, before Ryan Chase ran through the tail, finishing with 4-14. Only three batsmen made double figures.

The 85-run target gave the Horsham bowlers little opportunity to put the opposition under sufficient pressure, though when James Brehaut bowled Brighton skipper Bryce Hounsome with the first ball of the seasiders’ innings there was a glimmer of hope.

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Ben Williams and his fellow ex-Billingshurst teammate Louis Storey took a wicket apiece, courtesy of catches by Joe Willis behind the stumps, but t opener Tim Jarvis and former Horsham assistant groundsman Curtis Ford saw Brighton home with more than 12 overs to spare.

Horsham vice captain Ben Williams said: “The pitch offered a lot to the bowlers and we worked hard trying to rebuild, but they kept picking up wickets. Louis Storey looked good with both bat and ball, and our promising youngsters didn’t really have much luck, Ollie Haines was consolidating, only to be bowled by an absolute grubber.”

Brehaut added: “This was so disappointing after all the hard work we’ve been putting in – we’ve had 25 players at net practices and there’s a good feeling around the club as we aim to bounce back from last season’s relegation.

“To be fair, Brighton played well, making the most of home advantage, but we’ve got some good talent coming through and we’ll look to put this defeat behind us and move forward.”

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There was better news for Horsham 2nd XI in Group B2 of the August Cup at Cricketfield Road, where skipper Jonny Whiting inserted Barns Green, who notched up 211-4 off their 40 overs.

In a well-judged run chase, Horsham won by six wickets with three balls left, thanks to an excellent 94 from opener Ollie Wassell, who perished trying to end the game in the grand manner with a century to his name.

Hats off to Horsham’s U18 boys – with six players aged under 16, they got through to the Sussex Junior Final against Preston Nomads at Steyning on Sunday. While they came up just short against their older opponents, they can be proud of reaching the final.

On Saturday, in their first home game of the August Cup competition, Horsham’s senior side welcome Preston Nomads, who beat Three Bridges by 49 runs on Saturday.