Horsham begin league campaign with strong win over Lindfield

Horsham CC defied gale force elements to open their Division 2 promotion quest with a promising home win, after groundsman Richard Marshall and senior umpires Martin Bodenham and Terry Burstow got the game under way without any reduction in overs, Horsham’s excellent drainage coping admirably with the substantial overnight rain that continued well into the morning.

Skipper Michael Thornely top-scored for Horsham CC in their win over Lindfield CC with an unbeaten 63. Picture by Nick Evans

After electing to bat Lindfield CC began steadily, but from 35-1, when captain Michael Thornely started the rot with a direct hit run out, they lost wickets steadily, with only evergreen skipper Simon Shivnarain’s patient 56 taking them to semi-respectability at 158-8 from their 45 overs, Ben Williams taking a miserly 3-24 and Ed Bird 2-32

Horsham lost three early wickets to Jayson Butler (who finished with 4-25), before Chris Nash returning to his home club, combined with Thornely, another former Sussex pro, to put Lindfield’s score within reach.

Thornely’s excellent early season form carried him to an unbeaten 63 after Nash had departed for 42, Horsham winning by five wickets with 8.1 overs still in the bank.

Post match Thornely said: “They bowled well up top, putting us under pressure, so it was good to get a win under our belt and great to be batting with Nashy again after a few years. I couldn’t ask for more!”

Nash added: “After playing with my young nephews that was my early season net! It was nice to get started, and I’ll be playing as often as possible.”

Speaking from Lindfield’s perspective, Shivnarain told us: “Horsham bowled very well without much loose stuff. They didn’t bowl us out, which is a positive, and we did OK, but we’ve got more to come.”

On the neighbouring John Dew ground Nash’s brother Mark returned to Horsham colours with a match winning 61 not out, rolling back the years to get Horsham 3rd XI across the line against Crawley Eagles CC.

On Saturday Horsham travel to ambitious Bognor CC, who overcame Burgess Hill CC by six wickets last Saturday