The First XI got their season off to a great start with a win over local rivals Haywards Heath in the T20 Cup.
Tom Trowbridge won the toss and elected to bat with new overseas player Kevin Ramsay opening up with Trowbridge himself. The pair put on 36 before Trowbridge was bowled by Ollie Bailey for 19. Ramsay kicked on, clocking up 56 in 51 balls with a mixture of controlled play and explosive hitting. Contributions from Proto (14), Joe Maskell (17) and Penfold (8) took Hill to 123-5 whilst for Heath Callum Smith took 2-29.
Heath got off to a strong start as Jonny Phelps (19) and Smith (26) took advantage of some indifferent bowling, two dropped catches and the fielding restrictions to reach 43-0 inside 5 overs. However the introduction of Dan Rapson and Peter Billinghay swung the game in Hill’s favour as Billinghay removed both Phelps and Smith whilst at the other end Rapson bowled with great control. The pair finished with 1-9 and 2-11 respectively, yet Heath were still in with a shout going into the final overs. Ramsay took 2-17 but the penultimate over from Hugh Warmisham went for 12 and Heath, with four wickets still remaining required 13 from the final over, to be bowled by Maskell. Maskell had struggled early on but he found his line with the pressure on to close out the game with a sensational hatrick (3-31) as Heath ended 113-9.
Hill will now take on Hellingly in the last 16 at home on Sunday June 11th.