Sussex Academy centurion Matt Machan takes the attack to Guernsey bowler Jamie Nussbaumer at Hove. (Picture by Jason Shambrook, 0611245)
GUERNSEY had another tough workout as they lost by 75 runs to the Sussex Academy at the County Ground, Hove.
The day before on the same pitch, the Sarnians had been defeated by Kenya despite having put in a great fielding and bowling performance. If they were expecting an easier game against the academy, they soon had a rude awakening as the cream of the county’s best young players put on a huge total of 299 as Guernsey struggled in the field.
The Greens mustered 224 in reply before being bowled out. ‘You can look at it a number of ways,’ said Guernsey manager Dave Hearse.
‘They were probably a better team than [Thursday’s], they punished the bad ball and we weren’t as disciplined in the field. We dished up more for them to have a go at. Their numbers one and three batted very positively and we couldn’t break the partnership, although the second half of the innings we pegged them back.
‘When batting, again we lost early wickets which cost us dear. At 60 for four, it’s difficult to win. We couldn’t set up partnerships and, really, we were one partnership short of getting close. But lessons have been learnt. Playing quality opposition is what we’re here for.’
After the high of their performance against Kenya, the Academy showing was a comedown for captain Stuart Le Prevost and his team.
‘A little bit disappointing after such a good bowling and fielding performance [on Thursday],’ he said.
‘Again we lost early wickets. If we were 100 for two rather than four, we would have been in with a good shout.’
Sussex’s total was based on a 203-run partnership between opener Matt Machan and number three Rory Hamilton-Brown.
England under-17s’ Machan ended not out on 151 from 164 balls. The left-hander was compact and well organised and looks set to be a future county professional.
Hamilton-Brown, 20, is already there.
This season he has played 10 one-day matches and two championship games for the Sussex first XI.
The right-hander got 86.
A score of 350 had looked on the cards at one point as the pair got going.
They were helped by some indifferent bowling from the Guernsey attack.
However, some tight spin bowling from Gary Rich and Jeremy Frith did restrict the scoring in the last 20 overs.
In reply, Guernsey made their familiar mistake of losing a number of top order batsmen for not very much.
Ben Ferbrache, Tim Ravenscroft and Frith all went cheaply.
Matt Oliver looked good for his 30 before he played on while trying to pull tall seamer James Thorpe.
GH Smit restored some pride for the Greens in his usual bullying style.
He hit two massive sixes as he set about chasing down the target with Le Prevost.
The captain himself looked good but his innings was cut short at 27 when he chipped up a return catch to off-spinner Luke Wells, who is the son of former Sussex captain Alan.
Jamie Nussbaumer joined Smit at the crease after Kris Moherndl had gone and they took the score to 203 for six going into the last 10 overs.
If Guernsey were going to win, it all depended on Smit and Nussbaumer but seven runs later, Smit was out for 78 when he hit Hamilton-Brown’s off spin down Lewis Hatchett’s throat at long on.
As the South African went, so did Guernsey’s chances.
The Sussex Academy side is coached by Keith Greenfield who has helped look after the island side as well as being part of the county’s development agreement with Guernsey.
‘If I was being harsh on the lads, we [Sussex] should have got 25 more runs and when bowling I was expecting us to keep Guernsey down to 200,’ he said.
‘From a Guernsey point of view, they stuck at it in the field and they could have let it slip away.
‘When batting, they didn’t have the platform. The biggest difference was we managed to get one of the top three to bat through the innings.
‘From a Guernsey point of view these two days have been very useful workouts before the European Championships in August.’
Article posted on 28th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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