Billingshurst skipper salutes ‘best-ever’ team performance

Billingshurst captain Ben Williams saluted their ‘best-ever’ team performance as they beat Cuckfield by 85 runs on Saturday.
JPCT 260714 S14311641x   Sussex Cricket League Division 2 - Billingshurst v Chichester. bills batsman Mitipolaaraachchi , Chi keeper, Chaabane -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140729-093511001JPCT 260714 S14311641x   Sussex Cricket League Division 2 - Billingshurst v Chichester. bills batsman Mitipolaaraachchi , Chi keeper, Chaabane -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140729-093511001
JPCT 260714 S14311641x Sussex Cricket League Division 2 - Billingshurst v Chichester. bills batsman Mitipolaaraachchi , Chi keeper, Chaabane -photo by Steve Cobb SUS-140729-093511001

Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi stole the show for the home side as he crashed an unbeaten 154 as they climbed out of the Premier Division relegation places.

Stuart Barber assisted with 68 and 17-year-old Tom Nightingale made 53 in their impressive total of 299-4 declared in 54 overs.

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They then bowled Cuckfield out for 214 as Williams took 4-74 and Andy Barr 3-43.

Williams said: “It was a brilliant performance and one of the most emphatic victory we have had this year.

“It was the best performance by a long way and an absolute all-round team performance - the best-ever we have had.

“The table looks so much better and I am really happy with how it all went.

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“Dhanushka is just class. I have had a dig at him in about getting 30 and not pushing on and to do that shows how good he is.

“Just the way he batted, from the way he was striking the ball to running between the wicket. At no point did he get lazy or show tiredness.

“Credit to Stuart Barber as well who batted with him superbly.”

Hurst, having won the toss and chosen to bat, lost Scott Stratton with just three runs on the board, before Barber and Mitipolaarachchi put on a second-wicket stand of 150.

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Nightingale and Mitipolaarachchi added 89 for the third seeing off bowlers Steffan Piolet, Nick Patterson and Roston Chase, before Mike Burroughs closed with 13 not out.

In reply, Richard Stafford hit 69 before being stumped by Rob Woodman to leave the visitors at 149-5.

Oliver Altendorf’s 42 took Cuckfield to 196-7, before Marcus Campopiano hit 37 not out as they closed on 214.

Williams added: “I felt that if we could not bowl them out in 57 overs then they probably deserved the draw or victory.

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“They batted positively, but we set quite attacking fields as I wanted to keep them interested all the time.

“We bowed well and our young lads Tom Nightingale and Will Fazakerley are looking really good additions to the club going forwards and ones to watch.”