Eastbourne
III enjoyed a triumphant first season under
the leadership of first time skipper Mark
Dunford.
The season did not start off so well with a
defat against Ditchling in the first game
with Siraj Mashood (98) runs and Joe Barnett
(4-46) producing top performances.
But Dunners' side soon hit back with four
comprehensive wins on the trot against
Dicker, Seaford, St JM Jacobeans and Pett.
Against Dicker, Jon Lord took 5-21 as they
were dismissed for 66, against Seaford Giles
Adams (4-20) and Joe Barnett (4-21) ripped
through their line-up, St JM Jacobeans
collapsed to 86 all out with Phil Belfied
taking 5-34 before Mashood and Blackburn and
against Pett, Matt Isepp took 4-12 as
Eastbourne victored. Father and son pairing
Jake and Giles Adams put on 34 for the last
in what proved to be a match-winning
partnership.
The big local debry against Polegate was
next and after Eastbourne collapsed to 163
all out (Adam Blackburn 49), they put on a
superb bowling and fielding display to
reduce Polegate to 160-9 to ensure an
unlikely draw. Jon Lord (4-28) and Jake
Adams (2-11) were the pick of the bowlers.
Giles Adams to a stunning catch to dismiss
Ben Hughes off the bowling of Barnett.
In another top-of-the-table clash,
Eastbourne were again one wicket away from
victory after Giles (4-52) and Joe (3-73)
had bowled superbly. Russ Varney had earlier
hit 70.
Against St Peters, Eastbourne, for the first
time, really struggled with their bowling
and St Peters posted 238-3.
But Stuart Coussins (83), Craig Neal (60)
and Jon Lord (31no with 4 sixes) saw them
home.
After the Hailsham game was cancelled,
Eastbourne started the second half of the
season and eased to a nine-wicket win
against Dicker.
Jake Adams (4-29) was the pick of the
bowlers before Angus Stewart (82no), Stuart
Coussins (36) and Siraj Mashood (46no), with
the latter producing one of the greatest
cover drives you will ever see, saw
Eastbourne cruise to victory.
Dunners' troops then had to travel to
Ditchling looking for revenge for their only
defeat of the season. But they soon found
themselves at 125-9 and staring defeat in
the face.
But Giles, batting at 11, and Alex
Hinchcliffe put on and incredible last
wicket partnership of 80 and set up a
winning total for Eastbourne. Giles finished
on 61no from 42 balls with 4 fours and 5
sixes.
Then after Hinchcliffe took two early
wickets, Giles ripped the Ditchling middle
order taking 5-31 to lead Eastbourne to
victory.
That was followed by a second defeat of the
season at Seaford before returning to
winning ways against St JM Jacobeans with
Matt Isepp's 46 vital.
A tough game against the most impressive
side in the division - Pett - then followed
and we had to see out a draw despite Giles
Adams taking 4-63 and Adam Blackburn scoring
49 and a mature 37no from Jake Adams. A
quickfire 29 from the skipper gave
Eastbourne a little hope but they held on to
a draw in the end.
The only century of the season came in the
next match - the BIG ONE against Polegate.
Siraj hit 107 as Eastbourne totalled 227-8.
Polegate never went for the total and ended
on 135-8 with Blackburn taking 4-24.
Then came the side's most complete
performance of the season as they beat
Wadhurst. Nick Hoadley, Josh Varney and Matt
Isepp (54 from 24 balls) all hit fifties
before Isepp took 6-85 as Eastbourne won by
25 runs.
St Peters were next up and after smashing
255 from just 33 overs, they cruised to
victory with Oly Ody taking 4-36 including a
hat-trick.
So it was left to get eight points against
Hailsham in the last game to win the title
and they did just that. And it was b
Blackburn c Mashood that ensured the eighth
wicket that grabbed the team a well-deserved
title.
Alex Rayner hit 45* as Eastbourne grabbed
the win and finished 39 points clear of
Polegate.
Dunford's stats and picks of the year
Top 5 Runscorers
1. Siraj Mashood 624
2. Stuart Coussins 263
3. Nick Hoadley 219
4. Adam Blackburn 195
5. Matt Isepp 175
Top 5 wicket takers
1. Giles Adams 33
2. Matt Isepp 22
3. Joe Barnett 18
4. Jake ASdams 15
5. Adam Blackburn 13
Top 5 catchers
1. Mark Dunford 7
2. Giles Adams 6
3 = Adam Blackburn 5
Alex Rayner 5
5 = Joe Barnett 3
Matt Isepp 3
Siraj Mashood 3
Top 5 innings
1. Giles Adams 61* v Ditchling
2. Siraj Mashood 107 v Polegate
3. Jake Adams 37no v Pett
4. Matt Isepp 54 v Wadhurst
5.Stuart Coussins 83 v St Peters
Top 5 bowling spells
1. Giles Adams 5-31 v Ditchling
2. Jon Lord 5-21 v Dicker
3. Jake Adams 2-11 and 2-4 both v Polegate
4. Joe Barnett 4-21 v Seaford
5 Matt Isepp 6-85 v Wadhurst
Top 3 catches
1. Matt Isepp v Polegate
2. Giles Adams v Polegate
3. Mark Dunford v Wadhurst
Eastbourne Cricket
Club
