The 2s arrived at Lindfield Common for the long-awaited return of a great local derby knowing that recent history was not on our side. Most games on the common in recent years were draws or defeats for BHCC and we were looking to put this right. Seeing a lot of experienced friendly faces in the LCC side we knew we would have to play well to win.
Winning the toss skipper Matt Charman elected to bowl on a good-looking deck. This decision was vindicated as Chowdhury clipped Akeem Ifill to the excellent hands of Niall Murphy at midwicket for a duck. Nick Hopkins joined Scott Clark and an early chance went begging as Hopkins was put down at cover. The two batted sensibly taking the score to 81-1 when a bowling change proved inspired as Matt Charman brought himself onto bowl and he took both of their wickets in quick succession, with Hopkins expertly stumped by Jack Smart and Clark LBW. This was quickly followed a few overs later by Charman taking three wickets in one over, and big ones at that of Reason, Chamberlain and Court all bowled for ducks. Suddenly LCC were in trouble and the runs dried up with Matt O’Brien digging in to protect his wicket until he was also bowled by Charman who finished with 6-14. Some late hitting from Luke Sowton and Redwan Chowdhury took the score to 144 all out.
In reply BHCC made a terrible start with Charlie Punter bowled first ball of the innings. Teddy Churchyard and Akeem Ifill took the game to LCC especially Akeem who hit hard all around the ground until Teddy was caught behind off Alex Pedley. From then on it was about batting round Ifill who was at his belligerent best and this we did well. A turning point was when Akeem hit a huge cover drive to deep extra where the excellent hands of Dom Reason were lurking. He caught the ball well on the boundary and it looked out but his honesty in telling the umpire he was over the rope was something you don’t always see so a huge fair play to him.
Wickets then fell at the other end and skipper Charman joined Akeem until he repeated the same shot to Reason and this time the chance was in play and taken well. Akeem’s knock was pivotal as LCC bowled well to restrict runs at the other end and when Tom McCreadie joined Charman a couple of quick wickets would have put LCC right back in it. However BHCC nerves were settled when a four from Macca and 5 more boundaries from Charman took us over the line for an excellent 6 wicket win.
So, a win on the common for BHCC and 30 points, and the skipper was pleased with an excellent individual performance enabling him to have the last laugh over our friends at Lindfield. Onto a home game vs Portslade this weekend.