Smeed stars in big victory
This was the first game this season when the Rye side finally fired on all cylinders in a match sponsored by My Sweet Old Etcetera.
Rye lost the toss yet again and batted first. They lost two early wickets, but 21-year-old Barbadian batsman Neil Browne (83), joined by stalwart Mark Cook (48), set about demolishing the Crawley attack.
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Hide AdThey compiled a 100-run partnership in good time to put Rye in the ascendancy. Unlike similar opportunities this season, Rye did not crumble and instead built on the platform as Will Wheeler (20), Jake Bryant (26 not out) and Gary Willis (17 not out) saw them through to 235-6 declared in 51 overs.
Crawley’s response was positive as Harry Chaudhary (32) set about the Rye attack. But with his dismissal on 72-2, it became the Harry Smeed show as the 17-year-old single-handedly removed the Crawley batting line-up.
Only Farhan Mirza (48) had any answers to the questions posed by Smeed, whose 11.4 overs brought a remarkable return of 8-56.
He was well supported by a series of outstanding catches, especially those of Jo Lovell and Bryant, to round-off an excellent team performance.