Clift hanger: Buxted Park cricketers get better of East Grinstead
Park won the toss and elected to bat on what looked a very good April pitch. This judgement came good as the experimental opening partnership of Tom Clift and George Read scored runs freely. Read looked good for his 49 before he was bowled. Will Rist and Clift put on a sharp 31 before Rist departed for 13.
Finley Coddington entered the foray and Clift (102*) hit back-to-back boundaries before retiring. Barnes (14*) joined free-scoring Coddington (57*) and the pair took Buxted Park to their very strong closing total of 251-2.
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Hide AdAfter a minute’s silence in memory of The Duke of Edinburgh, East Grinstead began their run chase
They reached 29-0 before veteran Craig Olive (1/15) opened Park’s wickets account. Wickets fell regularly with spinners D Heater, G Clift and Cockcroft all taking two wickets.
There were some unbelievable catches by Clift and Coddington, and East Grinstead were all out for a modest total of 84, falling 167 runs short of Buxted Park’s total.
It was a professional performance to begin the season ahead of this week’s mixed fixtures against Forest Row and Newick,
The 1st XI open up their competitive campaign with a T20 cup fixture against Bexhill on May 1.
– report by Dom Heater