Chichester Priory Park seal second place and a promotion playoff slot
CHICHESTER PRIORY PARK CC WON BY 7 WICKETS
Chichester Priory Park CC 1st XI 223 / 3 (41) v Steyning CC 1st XI 219 / 7 (45)
The Chi boys turned up for the biggest game of the season at Goodwood against Steyning.
With it being a must win to secure a place in the playoffs for promotion and it being a club legend of Martin Ford’s last game anticipation was high. Mike Smith won the toss for the 14th time this season and stuck the opposition into bat on a green track.
With steady start from the Steyning openers slowly building a total as they put on 53 for the opening stand. However, Toby Toft got the breakthrough in his first over with some questionable bowling.
Then a partnership of 88 came from Steyning number 2 and 3 with the score 153-1 off 32 overs. Then Martin Ford got a crucial breakthrough as the run rate was starting to creep up.
Wickets fell often with the pick of them being a direct hit runout by Andrew Crookham as Steyning creeped to 219-7.
Now it was Chichester’s turn to bat with a total of 220 needed off the 45 hours. The opposition gave plenty of runs in the first couple of overs through extras but the first wicket to fall was Toby
Toft wafting outside the off stump #waftytofty.
Lewis Hawes and Simon Hasted built a partnership worth 50 before Hasted had to depart for 26.
Hawes was next to fall for a solid 46 with the score 119 for 3 off 26 overs.
Freddie Gillet joined Sean Dobbs at the crease and after a careful start,
Gillet scored a memorable 35 ball fifty including 3 huge sixes, the pair put on an unbroken 100 run partnership to seal the 30 points and send Chi into the play offs where they will play Little Common Ramblers.
The playoff match will be on Saturday at Glynde & Beddingham CC 12:30 start. Do come along and support the team if you can!
Up The Chi!!
