Match Reports & Results
Weekend of Saturday 12th June/Sunday 13th June
So this week we’ve got another T20 match at home on Wednesday evening, hopefully the good weather lasts for that and we can get a good crowd in to support us against Bognor. We’ve also got home games against Chidham and Hambrook on Saturday and Yellow Stump on Sunday starting at 1.30ish, support always welcome! And we hope we can continue with some of the form shown this weekend.
Our week started well, with a very well supported interclub T20 on Wednesday, with 12 aside match, increased to 22 overs each given demand for places, an excellent position for the club to be in.
I won’t go into too much detail of the match as no one really wants to hear any more about Malcolm House returning from injury bowling 4 overs for 26 runs, and 6 wickets against the team captained by his son. Shout outs on batting for Team House to Tim Shutt and Ben Adkin both getting to 25 not out and retiring, as a total of 138 was reached. Jonathon Bond’s Team Bond made easy work of the chase, with Cam Baldock and Matt Walsh both getting to the 25 run retirement mark, whilst Pete McIntosh (23), Joel Butler (22) and Colin King (19) all had excellent knocks as well. Although the highlight of the Team Bond innings being young Harry Lewis getting his dad Mike out for 2.
On Saturday we played Arundel Grasshoppers plus a couple of players supplied by Ferring. Having won the toss and chosen to field first Ferring made an excellent start with Jake Awde taking an early wicket. Alex Williams, making a rare Saturday appearance, then got the bit between his teeth taking three quick wickets, including Ferring loanee Tim Shutt for 0 (sorry Tim!), leaving Arundel in trouble with 4 down, Alex finishing with 3 for 21 from 9 overs. Andrew Jezard making his first start for the club then joined in the wicket taking with an excellent spell of 2 for 26 from 7 overs.
However, a fightback from Arundel with their excellent number 3 batsman being well supported by their number 8 gave them a chance as they finished on 155 all out, Colin King taking a couple of late wickets to wrap things up.
However, it was a good wicket and quick outfield and the total of 155 was not enough, and although Jonathon Bond fell quickly, Colin King and Matt Walsh scored well, Colin getting a well earned 52. Cam Baldock then came in and continued his good form to take Ferring close to victory. A quick burst from Tim Shutt did cause a few moments of concern when he dismissed Alex King and Chris Tams with consecutive balls, but Cameron saw Ferring home with a 6 to win the match and bring up his 50, with 15 overs to spare.
On Sunday, having struggled to find a fixture, we travelled to Rustington for a game, not quite aware how youthful the Rustington side was going to be. However, this gave a chance to mix things up and give people a chance to do other things. Batting first Ferring opted to open with regulars Cameron House and Matt Walsh, and a hundred run partnership followed, with Matt scoring the majority of the runs as Cameron fell for 24 again, Matt scoring an excellent 72. Those wickets gave a chance to the bowlers to go up the order, a chance seized by Jake Awde (30 not out) and Ben Adkin who continued his rich form from the Wednesday T20. Ben scoring 51 not out, his first 50 for the club, holding his nerve in the last over of the innings to get it. Ferring finished on 217 for 3 off their 35 overs.
In reply Rustington never really got going, Malcolm House and Alex Williams both bowling tight spells to the top order and taking early wickets, Malcolm finishing his 7 overs with 1 for 9 runs, whilst Alex bowled 5 overs getting 3 for 17. These wickets brought the youngsters out to bat, and whilst never in danger of scoring enough runs to win the match, they put on a good 60 run partnership to get Rustington up to 95-4 from their 35 overs, giving Ferring a 122 run victory.
It was also lovely to see the youth sections of the club getting some home games this weekend, and with excellent support – we had an U10s game on Saturday and an U12s game on Sunday. Whilst the U10s lost, the U12s continued their fine form this season with an excellent win over Eastergate. It's great to see the future of the club is looking good and on the weekend a former youngster for Ferring scored his first 50 for the club it shows how important this is.
Weekend of Saturday 5th June/Sunday 6th June
On Saturday we played Havant at the Little Twitten in another close high scoring match. Ferring batted first on a pitch that had taken some heavy rain the previous day, but was now in glorious sunshine and a freshening, drying wind. The top order got Ferring off to a good start with Matt Walsh 23, Tim Shutt 21 and Joe Binns 21 negotiating a lively Havant opening attack.
There followed some sparkling play from Sudantha De Silva with a number of fine boundary shots. Meanwhile at the other end Jonathan Bond was making good progress with some impressive shot making. Iain Wardley then came to the crease and played a typically stoic innings which provided great support for Jonathan as he finally reached an unbeaten 105 and a partnership of 101. Ferring completed their 40 overs reaching 241 for 6 wickets.
Ferring's opening bowlers, Ben Adkin and Chris Tams had a frustrating time as chances came and went. Ben made the first breakthrough and eventually finished with 3 wickets for 55 runs. Chris had to wait a little longer, but finished with 2 wickets for 30 runs. At 3 wickets down, Havant then put on a stand which frustrated the Ferring bowlers, but took them over 200.
The match was now looking close. A magnificent catch by skipper Cameron Baldock at 1st slip off the bowling of Sudantha, broke the partnership. There followed some fine fielding displays to get two run outs, as Joe Binns returned a well struck drive with great accuracy and Ben Adkin getting a direct hit on the stumps. Havant were down to their last wicket with just two runs needed from the last ball. For the second time in a week Ferring fell just short, as Havant got a little lucky as the ball was edged past first slip to give them the win.
On Sunday we played Worthing Pathfinder at home. Having lost the toss and been put into bat, Cameron House and Matt Walsh looked good at the start and set Ferring off on a good start, Cameron House yet again making a good start but still not quite getting the big score he deserves as he was bowled for 24. It was a similar story for the majority of the Ferring batsmen, with Matt, Craig Burgess, Cameron Baldock and Alex Williams all getting good starts but failing to go on and get a big score, Matt top scoring with 37 as Ferring reached 165 all out.
Ferring made an early breakthrough with Alex Williams clean bowling one of the openers with the score on just 13. However, a strong partnership between 2 excellent batsmen began to take the game away from Ferring, but when Matt Sealby made the much needed breakthrough there was still a chance. When Matt picked up his second and Cameron House another, the pressure was beginning to grow on the nine men of Pathfinder. Unfortunately as the field came in to try and make further breakthroughs, the Worthing Pathfinder number 3 secured his 50 with some excellent shots and led them to victory.
So concluded a very enjoyable week of cricket with some fine team performances, and whilst not managing to creep across the line in these games, they are the type of games we want, enjoyable, competitive and played in the right spirit.
ADULTS