Hampshire 60+ vs Sussex 60+
Thursday 7th. May 2009 at St. Cross, Winchester.
ECB 60+ Friendly

Hampshire 189-6
Sussex       188-6
Hampshire won by 4 wickets.

On a very cold grey afternoon the Hampshire 60+ team opened their season by playing a friendly against Sussex at St. Cross in Winchester.

Hampshire won the toss and put Sussex in to bat. The Sussex openers put on a quick 45 before Grey was bowled by John Hall for 19. The run rate gradually reduced so that when the  second wicket went down in the 26th.  over when Johnson was bowled by Tony Allum for 28 the score was 107. Meads made an excellent 65 before he too was bowled by Tony Allum. Tony Wharton’s safe hands put an end to Anderson  off the cunning bowling of Gil Collins. Brian Hart’s superb catch dismissed Watson for 23. Off the last ball of the game Stuart Hicks used his football skills to run out Moxon for 7. Barker remained undefeated on 22. The final bowling figures were: John Hall (9-2-31-1), Stan Rudder (9-0-37-0), Stuart Hicks (9-0-31-1), Tony Allum (6-1-28-2), Jim Smallbone
(8-0-26-0) and Gil Collins (4-0-24-1)

In reply Hampshire made a very slow start. When Neil Blackey was dismissed in the 14th. over for 13 the score was at 32. Martin Hall rode his luck to accelerate the run rate and when Ian Watson was dismissed for a well constructed 49 the score had reached 129 in the 28th. over. Hampshire closed in on the Sussex score, Brian Hart making 8 before an LBW appeal sent him back to the pavilion, where Jim Smallbone joined him shortly afterwards with a score of 5. Martin Hall was well caught on the boundary by Sweet off the bowling of Spiegel – Sussex’s answer to Gil Collins – having made an impressive 62. Tony Allum scored 9 which included a huge six before he succumbed to the high looping style of Spiegel. Stuart Hicks 10 not out and Jan Bridle 3 not out took Hampshire home to win the game – an encouraging start to the season.

Pat Hart - Scorer