Rye prevail in top of table clash

After choosing to bat, Rye slumped to 39-3 before opener Dan Seabrook (56) and Will Wheeler (64) batted beautifully for a partnership of 73. However, mini collapse number two was just around the corner as Rye went from 112-3 to 114-6.

Wheeler was then joined by Harry Smeed (21) and together they added 57 runs before the final four wickets went down for just two runs, including two run outs, meaning Rye were all out for 173 in the 45th over.

After tea, Craig Pierce struck in his first over as Johnny Atkinson (0) was caught brilliantly by Alfie Weller. Sandun Dias followed that with a wicket in the next over, while Pierce soon removed three more batsmen to leave Ditchling 34-5.

Chris Savill (47 not out) and Patrick Nolan (22) provided resistance to add 47 as a series of difficult catches were missed by the away side. But Rye’s bowlers maintained the pressure and Smeed struck twice before Martin Blincow’s efforts allowed Weller to take his third catch of the day.

Jackson Woodcock became the fifth Rye man to take a wicket, leaving Ditchling’s hopes hanging by a thread at 104-9. Pierce then returned to the attack to bowl the last man and end with exceptional figures of 5-12 off 10.1 overs.

The result leaves Rye 25 points clear at the top of the Division One table after just four matches. See Friday’s Rye Observer for a full report.