Rye pipped in tense finish

Will Wheeler played a useful innings for Rye in their narrow defeat at home to Portslade

Portslade scraped home off the final ball of, remarkably, the 60th over of their reply in a tense Sussex Cricket League Division Four encounter at The Salts.

After losing the toss and being asked to bat, Rye were all out for 174 in 38 overs. The bulk of the runs came from the top five as none of the final six batsmen reached double figures.

Opening batsmen James Hamilton and Dan Seabrook scored 15 and 11 respectively. Neil Browne hit 27 at number three and number five Will Wheeler made 30, but it was number four Jackson Woodcock who top-scored with 58.

Rye got off to a great start in the field, dismissing three of the top four Portslade batsmen for ducks. But number three Sam Delaney made 34, and there were significant contributions from the lower middle order with Dan Holgate hitting 35, Paul Glover 27 and Steven Case 23.

The last pair of Mark Gravett (2 not out) and Andrew Mamoany (3 not out) took Portslade past the winning post. Craig Pierce took 3-36, while Harry Smeed and Woodcock each finished with 2-40.

See Friday’s Rye Observer for a full report.