Slinfold Rams sunk by Effingham Ships in Slam Down

In arctic conditions at Horsham Cricket Club, Slinfold, winners of the 2020 Sussex Slam put Effingham into bat, containing them, until a late burst enabled the Surrey counterparts to post a demanding 160-run target.

Early fielding mishaps did not prevent Slinfold from controlling the initial exchanges and in a frugal spell Greg Iago dismissed both openers, and at the half-way stage Effingham had mustered a modest 52-2.

Priya Chameera Dondeeru pocketed the first of his three smart catches, but, although three more wickets fell, Effingham managed to accelerate through Jordan Bond (46*) and Will Farnsworth.

Chasing at eight an over, and without last year’s Slam hero James Parker – now with Ansty - Slinfold started briskly enough, but when Tom Endacott and former skipper Guy Thornes departed after promising cameos, the mid-point asking rate had risen to nine and a half.

Skipper Dan Smith and wicketkeeper Adam Goacher picked up the cudgels, Smith top-scoring with 37, but, when they both departed, Slinfold’s innings subsided, the innings ending 38 short with nine balls unused.

Dan Smith told the County Times: “They got 20 or 30 too many, and, when we batted, we didn’t use the wind to carry the ball away as well as they did.”

The game proved to be a great aperitif for this season’s Sussex Slam competition, with many more men’s and women’s teams entered than ever.