Slinfold skip hails Steyning strength after derby defeat

Owain Jones smashed his first century of the season and half centuries from brother Hywell Jones and Ben Shellford helped hosts Steyning to a daunting 271-2 declared.

Slinfold were then bowled out for 140 as the hosts’ pacy seam attack ran riot, Brian Scholtz with 4-27, Owain with 2-27 and new Zimbabwean bowler Ashley Mwenda 3-15.

Steyning have now taken seven maximum-point wins from seven matches and lead the division by 48 points ahead of second-placed Henfield.

“We’ve historically always had good competitive games against Steyning over recent times, however we came up against the strongest side I think they’ve had in the last four or five years,” Thorne admitted.

“They have some really good depth with both bat and ball and unfortunately it was a rather one sided affair this time around.”

“In Owain (Jones) they have undoubtedly one of the best batsmen in the county league and he played a chanceless and very impressive knock on an absolute road of a deck.

“Despite it being a belter of a track and a lightening outfield I was relatively pleased with our bowling efforts.

“We definitely deserved more than the two wickets we took, but we didn’t take the chances on offer and spilled two or three tough efforts. Against a side of that quality we have to take those chances, and we didn’t which was a shame.

“With that said, going at just over five an over I was pretty pleased with our attitude and effort we applied considering the circumstances, but Steyning batted very well so credit to their lads at the top of the order.

“In reply I thought if we could get through the first 20 overs with wickets in hand we might have stood a chance but we had to consolidate early in our innings and Steyning’s bowlers didn’t give much away and took every chance that came their way.

“They have a quality seam attack and we weren’t able to get ourselves in and make use of the track and conditions, too many starts, and no-one able to go on which is frustrating.”

Still Thorne added: “There were a few encouraging signs though with 16-year-old Dan Graycon making some useful runs and Andy Parsons getting some valuable time in the middle, and I hope we can build on that for next week.”