Barcombe win the battle at the top

Barcombe won by seven wickets away to Lindfield twos to go top of Sussex League Division 6 Central.

Messers Trower and Wheatley were unavailable so Marler and James Dodson returned.

Barcombe lost the toss and the hosts chose to bat first on a wicket that held a strange greenish tinge.

The skipper took the first over and immediately had the batsman searching to put bat on ball, Tucker had been trusted to open from the pavillion end.

He and Stewart gave nothing away and Lindfield edged and singled their way up the scoreboard.. In the field the benchmark had been set by Dodson, Coppard (Jnr) and Marler (Smaller) with Christmas (Jnr) back to his best.

After 10 overs Lindfield had done well to reach 33 when the skipper broke the deadlock by enticing the opener to drive one rather than block one, to short extra cover where Coppard (Jnr) had been brought in.. What a catch it was too - and the opener could barely bring himself to walk off.

Soon Lindfield were two down and Broadway and Coppard kept the over rate flying and the run rate crawling and drinks taken the hosts were 67-3.

Coppard sent down an ‘inducker’ for the 4th and Josh Wheatley and Dave Christmas continued with the jousting and wickets soon fell, Tucker taking a fine catch in the deep and Coppard an even better one to keep the pressure on.

The Lindfield no5 was starting to find the boundary but Dobson and Coppard Jnr kept runs to singles and Christmas Jnr giving a masterclass behind the stumps

Wheatley was on a hat-trick at one stage but the batsman was wise to the darting yorker.

Lindfield finished their 40’overs on 181-9.

Whilst only a modest total compared to recent weeks Barcombe needed to be wary and reminded that Lindfield were not in 2nd place by chance.

Tucker and Christmas both struck confident classic cuts for fours in the opening overs and looked set - however Tucker then looked to flick a leg side ball but got a leading edge to long on and Barcombe were 20-1.

This brought Callf to the crease and he took a little time in settling in, finding his rhythm with a couple of trademark drives.

Lindfield turned to slow left arm spin but Callf was not concerned and dispatched the bowler for 29 off the over to bring up his fifty from 50 balls - then gifted cover with a regular dolly of a catch for the 2nd wicket.

Christmas raced to his own 50 from 49 balls by dispatching a high full toss for four. The loss of Callf allowed Wheatley to stride to the crease with less than 50 needed from 23 overs

Wheatley continued his own fine form with some textbook shots and both pushed the score before Christmas was run out.

Out strode the skipper with 28 still needed. Stewart flicked his first ball to the boundary and then scored quickly to take his team over the finishing line in the 25th over

A statement win for the ones - fully deserved - and yet another team effort with everyone contributing to the cause and it edged the team even closer to not only promotion but the league title.

Player of the match was George Christmas for a superb all round display.

Lindfield were very gracious in defeat, played the game in the right way and stayed behind to share a drink.