MAX Vardy was the star of the show as Portslade Cricket Club’s Under-14s beat Steyning Cricket Club’s Under-14s by four wickets in the South Area Young Cricketers League Under-14 Division Two.
The all-rounder took three wickets before seeing his team home with a nerveless knock of 24.
Having won the toss, Steyning elected to bat first and got off to a disastrous start, losing their top three cheaply.
Ted Bloomfield was the first to go when he was bowled by Tom Lettres for two.
Jonny Taylor then lost the battle of the wicketkeepers when he was stumped by his counterpart Alfie Gent for eight off the bowling off Max Vardy.
Vardy followed it up by bowling number three Callum Martin for six to leave Steyning reeling.
Chris Etherington attempted to steady the ship, but lost batting partners at regular intervals.
Star man Vardy picked up his third to finish with figures of three for 22 off his four overs when he dismissed Steyning skipper Bartholomew Poyser for one.
Daniel Saunders made 10 before he was caught and bowled by Matt Chart before the Porstlade man ran out Isaac Tidley.
Max Walsh was bowled for a golden duck by Max Ratcliffe and Adam Healy joined him in the pavilion alongside Daniel Hurrell who battled hard for his six from 21 balls before being bowled.
Chris Etherington finished on 26 not out with number 11 Christopher Barnett adding eight runs to bring the total to 93-9 off Steyning’s 20 overs.
Gent laid the foundations for Portslade with 16 before he was caught by Ted Bloomfield off the bowling of Chris Etherington.
Steyning’s sharp fielding coupled with Portslade’s questionable running between the wickets meant captain Daniel Buttress and Matt Chart were run out for two and four respectively.
Lucas Mills-Cook came and went for one and then Max Vardy came to the crease.
After losing Ben Vardy to the bowling of Isaac Tidley and Lewis Shepherd to another run-out, Lettres joined Vardy out in the middle.
The pair batted beautifully to see their team home with four balls to spare - Vardy finishing on 24 not out and Lettres 23 not out.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here