Pair hit maiden senior-team half centuries as Horley CC make long-awaited return

The 1st XI made 196 all out from 38.2 overs and then bowled out their clubmates for 156 from 37.3 overs to claim a 40-run win.

Both teams were, in fact, a mixture of 1st and 2nd XI players and included some new faces who joined the club in the off-season, after both Saturday XIs won promotion at the end of last season.

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Ross Nel was the highest scorer of the day, making 53 before being caught by Ben Remfry off the bowling of Jordan Robins.

Guy Derham made 46 and Nathan Bailey 41.

Robins was the pick of the bowlers, taking three wickets for nine runs from four overs and George Byles-Wilding and Ashley Yeo took two each.

Sam Bracken top-scored in the 2nd XI reply with 38 before Nel dismissed him, caught by Derham. Darren Croft got two wickets for 16 runs and took two catches and Rob Jamieson (2-17) and Jorell Wildman (2-8) also took two wickets each.

Craig Macfarlane and Alex Field both scored their maiden senior-cricket half-centuries as they helped the Horley Sunday Strollers to a 41-run win over Outwood Millermen.

Opener Macfarlane, who made his Sunday debut for the club way back in 2008, was the club’s top-scorer of the opening weekend of the season after he hit a terrific 70 off 108 balls in the sunshine at Horley Row. Seeing the ball like a football, he clobbered 13 fours before finally being bowled by Adeen Gill.

With him most of the way was 15-year-old Alex Field, who came in at four and made a fine 64 from just 58 balls. His cover drive was particularly effective and he struck 12 fours.

The duo came together at the crease with the score on 23-2 and put on a partnership of 121 before Macfarlane fell with the total on 144, followed a few overs later by Field, caught behind by Chris Yeldham off Gill.

Horley finished their 40 overs on 199-9. Simon Knight took three wickets for 20 for the Millermen and Gary Lynch two for 11.

Yeldham top-scored in Outwood’s reply with 27 and Gill made 26 but good bowling from the Strollers meant the Millermen didn’t get near the home side’s total and were 158-8 at the end of their 40 overs.

Skipper Dave Childs took four for 21 from seven overs and was unlucky not to get a five-for. Jack Jee, Colin Terry and Field took a wicket each, with Field’s coming from a terrific one-handed catch at slip from Nick Waddington, stretching back towards the keeper to pluck the ball out of the air with his left hand. Callum Tester bowled well and was unlucky not to get a wicket. Andy Longley took two catches while Jee took one and was responsible for a run out.

Horley’s Sunday 1st XI won by four wickets in the reverse fixture at Outwood. The hosts elected to bat and made 201 all out from 38.5 overs. Jonathan Barnett took three wickets for 17 from six overs and Naveed Sherwani three for 29 from 5.5 overs. Kieran Childs took two wickets and Chris Cosham and 14-year-old Evan Grimwood took one each. Will Blease top-scored for Outwood with 73.

Guy Derham and Dave Hyde got Horley’s reply off to a good start, scoring 44 and 30 respectively and Barnett completed an excellent all-round performance, hitting 53. Skipper Jordan Robins scored a quick 34 batting at seven to take Horley past Outwood’s total after just 28 overs and for the loss of six wickets.

Horley Under-13s were the first youth side in action for the club this season and lost an exciting game against Lingfield by 14 runs.

Horley put Lingfield in and they made 122-3 for 20 overs, with William Cowdery making 32 and Harry House 30.

In Horley’s reply, Daniel Sired and Bailey Warren both got to the retirement mark, scoring 31 and 30 respectively, while Luke Smith made 20 and Henry Grimwood was 17 not out. However, consistent bowling from Lingfield restricted Horley to 108-3 from their 20 overs.

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