Cryptics 237-9 dec. Ditchling 133.
On a beautiful Tuesday morning in August, a Cryptics side-masterfully brought together by Dan Payne-Cook at the eleventh hour-descended upon the South Downs. Ditchling cricket week is one of few club events of its kind remaining in the South East and the privilege of participation in such a feast of high quality cricket was not lost on the Cryptic undecet.
Having won the toss, skipper Payne-Cook elected to bat. Teacher-student opening pair Carl Igolen-Robinson and Flynn Jennings made a steady start, frustrating the opening bowlers with their patience until an unfortunate mix up saw Igolen-Robinson run out for 1. This brought the flamboyant Van Rensburg to the crease, fresh from a stylish 89 against Amplefordians last week. He eased through the gears and was well into the forties by the time Jennings was caught off leg spinner Anderson for 38 in the 22nd over. He was joined by Cryptics and Ditchling legend Mike Nolan and soon reached his second half century in as many games for the club. Nolan immediately looked comfortable and launched an enormous six into a nearby garden within moments of arriving in the middle. His years of cricketing wisdom showed when he holed out in the deep for 22 off the last ball before lunch, by which point the game was well poised with the Cryptics 144-3.
The flow of runs was plugged after lunch. Van Rensburg fell for an excellent 75, a mini collapse saw three wickets fall on 159, and, before long, the Cryptics were a nervy 176-8. George Moody (25*) and Dan McMahon (29) each played a well measured lower order innings, putting on 51 for the tenth wicket and, crucially, manoeuvring the score up to a very respectable 237-9 from 52 overs.
A mouth watering afternoon of cricket was in store; time was left in the game when Ditchling set out in search of 238 to win. Opening bowlers George Moody and Sam Denslow struggled for rhythm early on, with Ditchling seemingly flying at 28-0 after 5 overs. Unperturbed, Moody and Denslow proceeded to dismantle the Ditchling batting line up. Ed Nolan found himself 37 not out whilst wickets tumbled at the other end and Ditchling were 51-4. Keeping pre-prandial dismissals in the family, Nolan was caught superbly by Benji Tilbury off Moody for 38 off the last ball before tea. This wrapped up Moody’s fabulous opening spell with a wicket maiden and was Tilbury’s third brilliant catch at mid off. Ditchling were 54-5 at tea. Ever the schoolmaster, skipper Payne-Cook opted to change the pace of the bowling attack. He darted in left arm orthodox spin at one end whilst Simpkins looped leg breaks in from the other. Whilst the Ditchling tail wagged for four or five overs, eventually the change in bowling brought about the fall of the remaining wickets. Two catches, a stumping, and a stunning direct hit run out by George Moody punctuated an otherwise somewhat erratic spell from Simpkins whilst Payne-Cook kept things tight at the other end. The final wicket was taken by the first and only ball of Ewen Stevenson’s cricketing career so far, with Ditchling 104 runs short of the Cryptics’ total. George Moody deservedly won the man of the match award for his all round performance (25*, 3-25, and a run out) as the Cryptics notched yet another victory in what is proving to be an exceptionally fruitful month for the club.