Daryl's great hat-trick

Unfortunately for Newhaven, the toss was won by Hailsham and they duly asked the hosts to bat.

For the first hour the pitch was a nightmare, offering significant bounce off almost every length. Hailsham's opening attack of D Bennett (3-55) and T Scott (2-20) took full advantage. Wickets started to fall immediately, with only captain Graham Godfrey (29) offering any prolonged resistance.

After the initial period the track settled down, but the Hailsham bowlers kept the pressure on by bowling tight lines. Eventually the remainder of the batting collapsed to attempted big hits and Newhaven were bowled out for just 99.

Pete Tullett (3-13) opened the bowling for Newhaven and quickly had success, not so much with the short ball but by using the pitch to move it. A double-wicket maiden, followed by another dismissal in the following over, had Hailsham reeling at 9-3. If two dropped chances off Michael Pryer at the other end had been held the visitors would really have been under pressure.

M Dawber (37) and S Hunt (45 not out) consolidated for Hailsham and led them to the brink of victory, but there were more twists to come.

Daryl Tullett was bowling some quality off-spin from the sea end, and with the scores tied he induced a false stroke and a good catch was taken by Paul Daniels. The next Hailsham batsman tried to finish the game with a big hit and was bowled, leaving Tullett on the brink of a hat-trick.

The Hailsham captain strode to the wicket but also fell to the red mist of winning with a big hit, so at least Newhaven were able to leave the field on the high of Tullett's first senior hat-trick after Hailsham eventually clinched victory.