St James draw with Worthing in glorious sunshine

The pitch looked a lovely place to bat so skipper Michael Murray, keen not to chase leather all day, won the toss and kindly let them take the field.

Aadam Din and John Taylor got the nod to pad up and try and get the visitors off to a good start. The Worthing opening attack was furious with the towering Australian Corey Altis and Luke Vinter. Nevertheless the St James’ opening duo battled hard to see the new ball off.

On 25 Taylor was bowled by the Australian leaving the visitors 37-1. Aadam Din battled on and the new ball was seen off. He was joined by Mali Richards at the crease. The West Indian looked in fine form at the crease and was playing some classic Calypso shots he had been practising at nets.

On 22 Din was caught leaving the visitors 63-2 with Adam Davies coming to the wicket. Mali and Davo looked in fine form before Mali was removed for 34 and Davo for 25, the visitors were now 125-4 of 33 overs.

Simms and Edmunds at the crease picked the run rate up and a good 57 from Simms and a 40 from Edmunds boosted the visitors runs before Edmunds’ wicket fell. The visitors were now 201-6. Tayyab fell next for a low score trying for quick runs towards the end of the innings soon followed by Tom Jenkins, who decided to take a leisurely stroll down the wicket to find himself stumped. A quick cameo from Jack Foreman saw the visitors end on 237-8 of 53overs.

Although St James had batted well, Worthing were confident and quick to remind us thatthe total could be chased in 30 overs and that 280 was a par score.

St James took the field knowing that a good start would be needed and a fired up Mali Richards was thrown the new ball. The crowd was settling in for what they expected would be a fine batting display from an in form and confident Worthing team. The Worthing team was opening batsmen and ex-SJMCC player Mathew Green and now middle order batsmen John Glover.

Mali was fired up and was bowling quick, a single of the 3rd ball brought birthday boy Matt Green on strike and he was dismissed on his third ball, edged behind and caught by Adam Davies in the 1st over of the match.

Next was the turn of Micheal Murray from the pavilion end who set the speed limit to a mere 40mph. A clear intent was shown from the other opening batsmen Andy Reid. Murray quick to react moved Jack Foreman away from short extra cover and replaced him with Taylor. Luckily, balls later in the 6th over Reid smashed one off Murray towards extra cover, a one handed leap backwards and to his left saw Taylor take the wonder catch and the home side go to 25-2.

This left Oxley and Challen at the crease who soaked up the pressure from the St James bowling attack, Murray bowling 3 maidens on the bounce and Mali bowling at high pace from the other end. Looking for a wicket Richards tested Oxley with the short ball and the ball spooned up to Jenkins who just took another stroll forward and took the catch.

The very next ball saw a pumped up Mali find the edge and the ball fizz to second slip where the safe hands of JT swallowed the ball diving forward to his right this time a superb catch 33-4. This time Richards completed two full laps of the playing field. The crowd were going wild. Worthing decided that they would shut up shop and try and see the innings off.

Spells from Foreman, Cooper and Jenkins couldn’t find a wicket. It was the 3rd over of Edmunds which finally saw the end of Challen for 38. John Glover was next in and took the same approach before Edmunds dismissed him, caught behind by Davies 150-6. The home side finished on 156-6. Match Drawn