Development XI lose thriller to Haywards Heath

The Academy/Development XI yesterday lost in their fifth premier league match of the season by 6 runs at Haywards Heath.

The Home side won the toss and chose to bat on a good wicket, which offered pace and bounce to the quicker bowlers and posted a very competitive 266 all out in their 58 overs.

Helped by some very wayward new ball bowling and early dropped slip catches, Hayden James (102) and Charlie Dowdall made the youngsters toil and only tight bowling spells from Matt Machan (4-51) and Jack Parsons (4-72) enabled Sussex to remain in the game.

Development XI lost Jones and Chapman with only 25 on the board, but Machan and Wells took up the challenge and took the score to when Machan departed for 62. Wickets kept falling at regular intervals and when Wells departed for 73, it looked as if the run chase would falter, but Matt Green quietly maintained the run rate between the fall of wickets. Glover joined Green with 24 needed from 5 overs and the last pair took the score to 260 with eight balls left when Green was lbw to Hayden James leaving us 6 short and James figures of 4-46 and victory for Haywards Heath.

HAYWARDS HEATH 266 all out (30pts) James 102, Machan 4-51, Parsons 4-72
DEVELOPMENT XI 260 all out (15 pts) James 4-46, Wells 73, Green 71, Machan 62