Match Report

After several weekends of glorious sunshine both teams were looking forward to this first match of the 2010 season. Surely the great British summer weather live up to expectations? Indeed it did – Sunday morning dawned dark and drizzly. By the afternoon it had brightened up, however the damp overcast conditions favoured the bowlers and after winning the toss Rogate did not hesitate to put Hawkley in to bat.

Opening bowlers Leverton and Candy immediately settled into an tight line and length and Leverton in particular generated a great deal of movement in the air. The batsmen struggled against the accurate attack and after five overs Hawkley were three wickets down for one solitary run and facing a major challenge to rebuild their innings. Nick Davis and Nick Hudson held the attack at bay: the bowlers struggled to find the right line against the left-handed Hudson which allowed a few tension-relieving boundaries. When Davies departed LBW to Candy Hawkley had at least avoided a complete collapse and the incoming Burks counter-attacked with controlled aggression, dominating a stand which produced nearly fifty runs before Hudson was well caught on the square leg boundary. After Burks was out for an invaluable 34 Hallam Brown played some attractive shots but ran out of partners. Indeed Hawkley’s innings finished rather as it had begun as the last three batsmen fell to a hat-trick from Bill Hill, who finished with the noteworthy figures of three wickets for no runs off three balls. Hawkley’s total of 99 off 32 overs was below par and would need an exceptional effort to defend.

Rogate’s innings began gently but accelerated as the batsmen settled in on a pitch which had lost its earlier venom. Hawkley’s seam attack of Davis and Hudson made little impression as the batsmen scored freely, however Hallam Brown’s spin won a breakthrough as Arnold holed out to Nick Davis at mid-off. Thereafter Rogate chased down their target with ease, although there were consolation wickets for Lillee and Mullard, the latter being the pick of the home bowlers.

Next week Hawkley hope for a better performance when they host the Twelfth Men.