TODAY IS:

Forest Row, in partnership with Douch, travelled to Streat & Westmeston on Saturday. On a cool and cloudy afternoon, Streat won the toss and elected to bat on a fine batting wicket. Row opened with Paul Rowe & Neil Divall. Both bowling tidily, bowled without fortune – until Divall slipped in a Yorker to trap Stael (7) plumb LBW. Jeyes joined Mansfield and the pair constructed an increasingly fluent partnership, as Rows bowlers were unable to extract anything from a benign pitch. The partnership was eventually broken with the smart stumping by Wycherley, off Britt. Mansfield’s (65) fine knock ended at 128-2. Rowe’s return had Jeyes (55) caught behind. A superb caught & bowled by Rowe, had Christmas (10) early. Hills (28*) & Bishop (16*) flayed away, as Streat totalled 213-4 off 47 overs.

In reply, Row opened with Francis & Way. Whilst Way rode his luck, Francis looked increasingly solid and assured. Dominating the opening stand of 83, when Christmas bowled Way (30). Barnett joined Francis who had just raised his fifty. Barnett helped accelerate the run rate with some fine running. They put on 81, when Brunsdon bowled Barnett (26). Runs continued to flow from Francis’s blade, as he raised his 1st league ton. He fell soon after for a fabulous 108. Wycherley, scampered & stroked a serenely swift 35 – as Row cantered home by seven wickets, with 4 overs to spare.

Scores: Streat & Westmeston 213-4 (47) Mansfield 65, Jeyes 55, Hills 28*
Paul Rowe 10.2-1-44-2, Britt 8.4-0-40-1 N Divall 14-2-49-1
Forest Row 216-3 (42) Francis 108, Wycherley 35*, Way 30
Brunsdon 5-0-39-2, Christmas 9-1-42-1