Super Slinfold celebrate Slam success

Slinfold crowned their highly successful season, cantering home to win the inaugural Sussex Slam competition in front of a huge crowd braving a cold afternoon at Horsham Cricket Club.
Slinfold are presented with the Slam trophySlinfold are presented with the Slam trophy
Slinfold are presented with the Slam trophy

In the semi, Rottingdean won the toss, elected to bat and were a promising 68-1 at the 10-over halfway stage, but nonchalant boundary catches from James Parker saw them slide to 94-4, courtesy of three wickets from Mo Hussain.

Trademark canny bowling from skipper Dan Smith, also ending up with three scalps, restricted Rottingdean to an inadequate 125-7.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Master-blaster Parker got Slinfold off to a murderous response with two towering sixes and two fours in the first over. A headstrong run-out reduced Slinfold to 72-3 in the eighth, but with 50 required from the last 10, it was a stroll in the park for Smith and Goacher, both hitting sixes in the 13th over – by which time the run rate had evaporated.

Another four from Goacher delivered victory by six wickets with time to spare.

In the other semi on Horsham’s John Dew Ground, East Sussex’s Chiddingly saw off Bosham by 31 runs and were then put into bat by Slinfold in the final. Some hitting in the seventh over boosted their score but two wickets were down, and at the mid point they were 63-2.

After a partial recovery, Hussain took a wicket and Parker pulled off a difficult boundary catch, enabling Slinfold to turn the screw. A smart catch from Goacher standing up and an excellent run out from Sean Overton’s pick up and throw kept Chiddingly to 129-7.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After a cautious opening, Parker launched three sixes and two fours in one electric over, and Slinfold were soon motoring, Parker striking another maximum, taking him to compulsory retirement at 51 in the eighth.

Just 26 runs were required at halfway stage and Parker’s departure and a needless run out were mere inconveniences, Goacher coming in to club his solitary ball to the boundary to give Slinfold the Cup with eight overs still in the bank.

Dan Smith told the County Times: “In the semi, Rottingdean didn’t go hard enough in the middle, then we fielded well with our bowlers winning it for us. And, in the final, Chiddingly just didn’t get sufficient runs – it was as simple as that, really !”

Captain Sean Overton added: “This has been a fantastic season for us.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“On top of winning our August Cup final and the Mirfield, our seconds also won their section of the August competition, so the

future looks bright at Slinfold.”

Mo Hussain was presented with a Newbury bat for his outstanding performances on Finals Day, Slam’s Matt Camp praising Horsham’s proven organising ability along with the services of the umpires and scorers on a brutally cold day.

In a well supported women’s final on the John Dew Ground, Eastbourne Renegades set Horsham Lionesses a very challenging 177 to win.

Depleted Horsham couldn’t reach the target, but the team were delighted to get to the final.

Related topics: