Brigands v Sussex Martlets, 3 August 2025

Geoff Boycott once said a batting side should always “add two wickets to that score” to gauge how well they’re really doing. He might have done better to suggest three.

The Brigands looked in complete control early on, cruising at 30 without loss after seven overs. Gerry Northwood and Guy Ladenburg were striking the ball cleanly, seemingly untroubled by the damp pitch and overcast skies that were causing both swing through the air and seam movement off the deck.

But then came a dramatic over from Mike Murray; everything changed. Northwood was struck on the pad in front of middle stump and given out after a slow, deliberate raise of the finger from umpire Nick Harris. Two balls later, Ladenburg edged one to a stunning catch at first slip. Off the very last delivery of the over, newcomer Rob Manson was bowled - middle stump knocked back. From 30-0, Brigands had slumped to 31-3.

The tousle-haired Ed Hands, delayed by A3 road closures (who knew?), had missed his chance to open. He arrived late, went in at number five, faced nine dot balls, and ran two singles before being caught behind. There were whispers that it might have been the bat hitting the ground. Regardless, it was 50-4.

Dave Turner and Dave Henderson, sharing the same bat sponsor and a gritty determination, were now at the crease.

Turner looked nervous, repeatedly playing back and missing balls that kept low. A fielder, bemused at Turner’s struggles, called out: “Haven’t you ever played here before?”

But the pair built momentum. Most of their runs came from grounded strokes - singles and twos - but they kept the scoreboard ticking at around seven an over. With spin operating at both ends and the ball turning prodigiously, several deliveries pitched outside leg and missed off, and vice versa. It was tricky batting. Yet they brought up a century partnership.

A celebratory fist bump marked the milestone, but soon after, Turner (62) was run out coming back for a second as Brigands looked to accelerate.

Joe Kooner-Evans (38) took an over or two to settle, giving strike to Henderson (94), who produced a flurry of late cuts and two big sixes - first off O’Mera, then off Goode - one of which smashed a tile on the roof of the famous Bat & Ball pub.

Brigands declared on 235-8 after just 42 overs. The players then enjoyed a classic cricket tea, complete with birthday cake and a round of singing for Paul Whittle and Northwood.

The Sussex Martlets opened with a powerful top order stacked with talented young batters who came out swinging. Alex Good led the way, striking through the line with ease on his way to a run-a-ball half-century.

But Broadhalfpenny Down has a way of levelling things.

Kooner-Evans took a sharp catch at cover. Henderson, fielding on the long-on boundary, set a trap. Beardall took a rare slip catch. Hands bowled a wholehearted 10-over spell, finishing with 1-33, supported by Ladenburg’s 2-13 and Wood’s 2-28.

Once Goode was trapped LBW by a ball that skidded from Manson, the Martlets’ chase stalled. They began to dig in for a draw as the Brigands crowded the bat.

Then came a mesmeric three-over spell from ex-Marine Jim Morris, bowling like the mythical martlet - a bird said never to land. The batters couldn’t read him. One spooned a catch to Northwood at square leg; another holed out to Hands, who had positioned himself 20 yards in from the mid-wicket rope.

Fittingly, Kooner-Evans claimed the final wicket. And then it was beers and flapjacks in the pub - and an apology to the landlady for the broken roof tile.

The Toss, Brigands choose to bat first on a damp pitch

Henderson's fingerprints were all over tile-gate in Hambledon

Brigands 235-8 declared beat Sussex Martlets 131 all out by 104 runs