Barcombe 1st XI - 199 - 9
Hurstpierpoint 1st XI - 120 - 7
Barcombe win by 42 runs (DLS)
After a relatively straightforward week for selection, Barcombe welcomed Hurstpierpoint to the BRG looking to get back to winning ways. The squad welcomed back several key players including the next big thing on the international stage, David Christmas, who had been representing England Seniors last week.
Rumours that he accepted the honour purely to get a branded tracksuit have yet to be verified. Given the weather, the groundsteam had worked hard to ensure the wicket was in it's usual good condition and play could get underway at the scheduled start time. In fact the head groundsman had worked so hard he had turned up to play without his bat.
Skipper Harry Stewart's successful tossing run came to an end and Barcombe were asked to bat first under grey skies. Stewart and Ole Callf - like a room full of rose petals, scented candles and dimmed lighting - got things going, despite the sluggish nature of the pitch.
They flew out of the blocks - Calf in particular was dishing out punishment and striking the ball over the ropes at will. It looked like it could be a long afternoon for Hurstpierpoint, even when Stewart fell as Will Marler joined Callf and they continued to press the accelerator.
Things changed with the introduction of Barcombe's nemesis - slow bowlers - as a flurry of wickets suddenly put Barcombe in trouble at 115-5. A combination of long hops, poor shot selection and good catching saw Callf - for an excellent 47 - Joe Wheatley and Callum Coppard come and go. Only Marler can claim to have been removed by a good delivery.
All this meant that Barcombe needed to rebuild and Nick Beck - fresh from working out that you need to press a button to open the door to the village shop - and George Christmas began the process but when both fell in quick succession Barcombe were back in trouble at 143-7 with Ade Broadway and Allan Trower at the crease. They continued to chip away at building a total - despite Broadway taking one to the foot that left him slightly more immobile than usual.
When Trower and then Christmas senior both went - Broadway was left to see out the remaining overs with Barcombe's expert number 11, Oli Palmer. The team needn't have worried as Broadway went big - smashing his way to 30 - targeting the short side of the ground whilst Palmer calmly dab swept his way to a crucial 3 not out.
They had taken Barcombe to a competitive 199. The key thing would be getting the required overs in before the forecast rain swept in.
By now there was quite a crowd at the BRG and fuelled by brownies courtesy of Bertie Wheatley and Zach Eastwood - who seemed to manage to fleece a couple of quid out of everyone for their spot the ball competition - the supporters (of both teams) settled in for what could be an exciting second half.
Statistically, 52% of marriages don't last as long as the new-ball partnership of Trower and Wheatley and they got things underway yet again. Both looked good from the outset, Trower beating the bat and Wheatley picking up the wickets.
He struck with his first ball, Palmer clinging on to a catch despite having too much time to think about how he might drop it, and then later took two in two with vicious yorkers. It had been a superb start and when Trower finally decided he wanted a wicket too, Hurstpierpoint found themselves 4 down with only 39 runs on the board. They were backed up by their fielders - George Christmas behind the stumps was electric, seemingly having a sixth sense to take anything that came his way.
By now, the dark clouds were gathering behind the mighty oak - even the circling red kites had an inkling that something biblical might follow - but still cricket (debatable at times) continued. Wheatley unfortunately, couldn't continue, pulling up lame after over-celebrating his wickets. It remains to be seen whether he will recover or have to be turned into glue but his replacement from the tennis court end - Beck - picked up where Wheatley left off, bowling quickly and accurately to pick up 3 wickets of his own. One with a slower ball, and accompanying grunt, that would have had a certain Keith Hunter smiling from on high.
When the rain eventually came - Hurstpierpoint had battled to 107-7 - and it looked like the game was done. The teams retired into the pavilion leaving the umpires and captains to get out their abacuses to calculate the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern requirements. When the rain relented, the players took to the field with Hurstpierpoint needing 65 from 16 balls. Unsurprisingly, that didn't materialise and the rain came down again to end the game, and soak the Barcombe players as they frantically put away equipment.
It had been an excellent team performance, with most batters and bowlers contributing - backed up by an excellent fielding effort - often with limited visibility. It also means that the team have already passed last years win total - and it's only June! Next week, they welcome Burgess Hill St Andrews to the BRG for another home game.
Player of the match - Ade Broadway - 30 crucial runs biffed at the end despite having an ouchie on his foot.