Jacob stars but Eastbourne miss out on victory by one wicket

And Jacob Smith was the star of the show, hitting 109 and taking 4-38.

Lindfield won the toss and asked Eastbourne to bat first.

Eastbourne openers made a slow careful start seeing out some good opening bowling.

Dan Wells began to get the score going and his opening partner Smith soon joined in, together they put on a stand of 54 before Wells was caught behind off overseas T Hodson bowling.

Smith was joined by new boy Albert Pennington of Brighton Uni and together put together a stand of 30 off 45 balls before Pennington fell LBW to T Hodson.

Eastbourne’s captain Luke Tomsett joined Smith for a short stay of five balls before inside edging onto his stumps off Tem Hodson making that a maiden over with a wicket at start and end.

Martyn Garnett was next to the crease to join Smith and tried to move the scoring on and fell to M Wilson-Yelverton for 14.

J Turner arrived at the crease and he and J Smith continued the scoring both accelerating the run rate, before getting out to J Pearce, J Smith reached 109 off 158 balls.

Eastbourne declared at 52 overs leaving Lindfield 1st 251 from 48 overs.

After tea Eastbourne took to the field and in the fifth over Craig Eaves struck the first blow removing P Weir LBW.

Lindfield skipper Simon Shivnarian was joined by Hodson and together they steadied the ship putting together a stand of 74 off 108 balls until Eastbourne keeper Albert Pennington stumped Shivnarin off Smith’s bowling.

Eastbourne didn’t have long to wait for their third wicket and it was that man again Smith trapping Hodson LBW in the 25th over.

A partnership of 52 by Declan Martel and Shane Wilson-Yelverton held up Eastbourne’s progress until J Smith removed both men within 4 overs of each other.

Eaves took three wickets in the space of two overs putting Eastbourne within touching distance of a first game victory, an inspired bowling change by Tomsett bringing Ben Barter back on,(whom had been struggling with a niggling ankle injury unable to bowl at his best) trapped Conor Andrew LBW with the first ball of the 46th over.

Eastbourne kept at it in the remaining overs but were unable to find the final wicket they needed to gain a first game win, unfortunately for Eastbourne it ended in a draw.

Man of the match was Jacob Smith with an all round performance of scoring 109 off 158 balls and bowling figures of 17 overs 6 maidens 4 for 38.

Eastbourne II drew with Lindfield. Eastboure posted 238-5 with Jon Purdey (61), Chris Borsoi (59) and Jason Tibble (65 not out) all batting well.

Other results in Division 2: Bognor Regis beat St James Montefiore by eight wickets; Ifield beat Crawley Eagles by 126 runs; Middleton drew with Pagham; Three Bridges lost to nsty by 46 runs.

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