Kennett takes positives despite Mayfield defeat

Kennett stuck Mayfield in and their batsmen were welcomed to overcast and tricky batting conditions, with Toby Glover (4-82) and Nathan Tyler (3-42) restricting their opponents to 186 for nine from 53 overs.

Steyning were without six first-team regulars and looked a little light in the batting department, which proved to be the case as they fell to 49-5 and 87-7 in response.

Despite looking out of the contest, Bartholomew Poyser ended unbeaten on 31, although that was not enough as Steyning were all out for 174 in reply.

Kennett, who fielded a young side in the contest, admitted his side could hold their heads high after falling just 12 runs short in the chase.

He said: “Obviously we were disappointed to lose but I took so many positives from this defeat.

“For Toby, at 19, to take four wickets and Nathan, who is just 15, to chip in with three was fantastic.

“As well as those two, we also had Bartholomew at just 16 and Oliver Collins, who’s 17, play in this match for us.

“Mayfield are a very tricky team and I was not expecting us to perform to the level we did.

“With the team we had, I did not think we would come as close as we did to getting a result.

“Bartholomew played incredibly well going to get us so close with his 31 not out, having gone in in at 87-7.

“In the end, we just missed out but all of the younger guys that played have staked their claim for places in the first XI throughout the season now.

“It’s given me a real headache going forward now following the positive performances of some of our younger guys.

“For them to come in, under pressure situations, and impress with both bat and ball was really positive for myself and the club in the coming years.”

Glover dismissed three of Mayfield’s top four batsmen with Jack Skinner (ten), Steve Joyce (31) and Robert Sharma (34) all falling to him.

The game was well poised with Mayfield 103-4 at one stage but a vital 57 not out from Carl Shankland helped his side reach 186-9 from their 53 overs.

Steyning got off to a horror start as Simon Grant (three), Christopher Barnett (nine) and Collins (two) all went in quick succession to leave them in deep trouble at 19-3.

Johnny Burfiend (32) and Ryan Matthews (42) tried their best to steady the ship but Steyning still fell to 87 for seven.

With the home side looking to be heading to a heavy defeat, an unbeaten 31 from Poyser and a contribution of 25 from number ten David Curtis-Botting gave Steyning a glimmer of hope before they were all out for 174 in 43.5 overs.

Steyning make the trip to Haywards Heath in the league on Saturday.

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