Horsham's defeat to Middleton in high-scoring game 'hard to explain'

Horsham skipper Michael Thornely (in yellow) hit 150 in Saturday's defeat against Middleton. All pictures by Liz Pearce

Horsham’s high-scoring eight-wicket home loss against Middleton on Saturday in the Premier League was ‘hard to explain’ according to captain Michael Thornely.

Middleton elected to field and were put to the sword by the Lions, as they posted a hefty 340-7 off 50 overs thanks to the superlative Thornely (150) and Will Beer (100).

But a masterful reply saw Sean Heather (144*) and Mahesh Rawat (100*) power Middleton to 342-2 off 47.5 overs to secure victory.

Thornely said: “It’s hard to explain. You shouldn’t really lose that game.

“I’m not blaming anyone, and I don’t want to take anything way from Middleton, but we just bowled too many extras and we didn’t do the basics well enough.

“I’m really happy with the score that we put on. Beero and myself had a good partnership and the guys down the order played positively and got us onto a great score.

“But it just wasn’t to be and it was a very disappointing loss really.

“We should have won. It should have been two wins from three instead of one from three.

Thornely scores off the bowling of Middleton's Mahesh Rawat

“Now I’m just asking for a reaction from the players at Cuckfield on Saturday. We must make sure we are up for it and put right what happened.”

Billingshurst, Horsham, Middleton, Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill - Sussex Cricket...

The Lions’ Craig Gallagher (14) and Sam Bell (six) were both early victims of Russell Talman (3-64) as the hosts stumbled to 25-2.

But a marvellous 257-run third-wicket partnership between Thornely and Beer motored Horsham to 282-3.