Priory beaten in shortened game

Finn Hulbert took two wickets with the ball and top-scored with the bat for Hastings Priory against Three Bridges. Picture courtesy Regwood Photography

Priory went down by 70 runs away to Three Bridges in a Sussex Premier League match played to T20 rules, although it technically goes down as ‘abandoned’.

Heavy rain the night before meant that play could not start until 3pm, meaning a T20 game was all that could be played. The winners would receive 16 points and the losers 10 for an abandonment.

As reported by Three Bridges CC, Priory won the toss and unsurprisingly asked Bridges to bat first. Home openers Ben Speake and Danny Alderman got Bridges off to a good start, putting on 34 in five overs before Alderman (19) was caught by Jake Woolley off Finn Hulbert.

Joe Ludlow joined Speake and the pair put on 70 before Speake (42) was stumped by Woolley off Dan Doram. Tim Moses then took the Priory attack apart, smashing fours and sixes at will.

Moses put on 63 with Ludlow (38), who was caught on the boundary by Jed O’Brien off Hulbert. Moses finished 61 not out as Bridges posted a massive 181-4 in their 20 overs. Hulbert was the most successful bowler with 2-26 off four overs.

The visitors’ reply got off to the worst start possible. Adam Maharaj-Newman was caught behind first ball by debutant Hugo Cowan off Abi Sakande, who also accounted for Doram (1) in the same over to leave Priory 2-2.

Matt Blandford then got in on the act, removing the dangerous Leo Cammish and Woolley, both without scoring in the same over, and Priory were in disarray at 6-4.

Wickets continued to fall at regular intervals as Priory never recovered from their poor start, finding themselves 30-5, 48-6, 56-7 and 67-8. A ninth wicket stand of 35 at least got them into three figures before they were all out for 111 in 18.4 overs.

Hulbert top-scored with 24 at the top of the order, while Tom Gillespie (20), John Morgan (18), Freddie Hulbert (13 not out) and Elliot Hooper (10) also made it to double figures.

Sakande (3-11) and Blandford (3-17) were the pick of the Bridges bowlers in a clash between two teams who appear long odds-on to be relegated with just four games remaining.

Standings (played 15 matches unless stated): 1 Preston Nomads 311pts, 2 Roffey (14) 291, 3 East Grinstead 281, 4 Eastbourne 249, 5 Horsham 246, 6 BEXHILL 214, 7 Brighton & Hove 212, 8 Cuckfield 212, 9 Three Bridges 166, 10 HASTINGS PRIORY 126.