Junior BB v Sussex Martlets (Hurst) – Thursday 22 July (2pm)
Match lost by 34 runs.
Martlets 199-5 decl.
Junior BB 165 (Ferro 59).
Cricket week 2021 opened with a warm Hurst day and a well-contested match ending in defeat for BB after they came close to chasing a strong target. Martlets won the toss and batted, taking just 29 overs to set 200 to win. Their innings, built around a massive 122 by Sussex junior Joe Willis, watched by former England player Matt Prior, was a tough ask. Wickets fell at the other end with Will Pollington (2-31), Freddie Ferro (1-31); and 2 outstanding run outs including from Rupert Plumptre (captaining in his final match as a Junior). In reply, BB built a steady position from which to put the target within reach. An opening stand of 37 (Arthur Butt 21, Will Pollington 18) set the base for Freddie Ferro (59) and Freddie Evans (29) to take the BB to 152-4 with 9 overs to go. The win needed a final push and, were it not for a rash of late BB wickets, might have been there for the taking. In the end, a deserved win for Martlets which happily brought the sides back together after 2020 season disruption.