Lancing Manor Cricket Club

There were a number of stand out performances that were worthy of this week’s man of the match award, but Dan Blackman scoring the club’s first ever double hundred in our 104 year history just about pipped it! Well done Dan!

It was back to back league wins for the Manor on Saturday! Here’s what happened…

On a radiant, sun-filled day, Pagham 3rds, who were second in the league at the start of the day, arrived at the Manor for a highly anticipated match. Skipper Darren Radford won the toss and opted to bat, setting the stage for an exciting opening. Joining Nick Brown at the crease was 27-year-old debutant Dan Blackman, making his first appearance since the previous July. Despite the hiatus, Blackman quickly found his rhythm, confidently pulling, driving, and dispatching loose deliveries with ease.

Brown contributed a solid 19 before being dismissed at 74 in the 15th over, followed soon after by Radford (0) at 83 in the 17th. This brought Jamie Funnell to the wicket, and together with Blackman, they launched a relentless run spree. Blackman’s debut century, a feat previously achieved only by Funnell in 2024, appeared inevitable. His hundred came off 88 balls, featuring an impressive 16 fours and 2 sixes.

Not content to rest on his laurels, Blackman accelerated, surging past 150 and closing in on the club record of 178 not out, set by Les Lenham in 1983. With singles, he equalled and then surpassed the record, continuing onwards to achieve the club’s first-ever double century in its 104-year history, reaching this milestone in just 135 balls. His second hundred was even more rapid, coming in only 47 balls. Blackman concluded his innings unbeaten on 213 from 139 balls, setting a new benchmark with 36 boundaries (27 fours and 9 sixes) over 170 minutes, much of which was spent retrieving balls from the surrounding trees and bushes. Notably, the 9 sixes marked the highest by a left-hander in a single innings. The 3rd wicket partnership with Funnell remained unbroken at 219, the seventh-highest for the 1st XI.
The final total of 302-2 was the club’s sixth-best score. Those fortunate enough to witness this extraordinary display were truly privileged.

In their innings, Pagham 3rds, faced with the daunting target, quickly found themselves in trouble at 11-3, as opening bowlers Tinu Sameja (2-1) and Amar Reddy (1-10) wreaked havoc within the first 25 balls. Pagham’s resistance came courtesy of Nick Baker, whose aggressive knock of 114 (22 fours and a six) provided some hope, but the team struggled to keep up with the required run rate, even with bowlers conceding 5-8 runs per over.

Steve Pengelly’s varied bowling (off-spin, leg-spin, and darts) yielded figures of 7-0-39-4, narrowly missing a maiden club five-wicket haul. The final score of 233-9, however, was a respectable effort. Remaining wicket-takers were Tinu (8-2-38-2), Amar (6-0-38-2), and Yas Iqbal (7-0-40-1). Radford’s two catches brought his club tally to 50.

Although the victory could have been more decisive, a series of dropped catches, perhaps stemming from complacency, allowed Pagham to narrow the margin. Nonetheless, the Manor secured a convincing win by 69 runs and now sit second in the league with a game in hand.

Here is the team for our home league game against Pagham on Saturday.

Here is our man of the match from our trip to Chailey on Sunday..

Here is our man of the match from the win at Clymping on Saturday..

It was a big league win on Saturday and a friendly loss on Sunday for Manor’s first double game weekend in over 20 years. Settle down in your favourite chair, as two match report novels are coming up…

Manor arrived at a sun-drenched Clymping to take on the early season table-toppers. After being put in to bat, Manor suffered early setbacks, losing Murray and Skip Radford quickly. However, Nick Brown anchored one end with a determined 34 off 83 balls, while Jamie Funnell unleashed his trademark aggressive batting, propelling the partnership to 86 runs. Brown’s 34 would prove an important omen for the match.

Rick Kelly, usually known for his brisk scoring, played an unusually composed innings, contributing 25 in a 56-run stand—his only fireworks being a towering six launched into the trees at mid-wicket. As Jamie Funnell approached his century, wickets and at times, tempers, began to crumble in the heat. A miscommunication on the third ball of the final over left Jamie stranded at the non-striker’s end, heartbreakingly denying him a well-earned hundred. Still, his unbeaten 99, featuring 13 boundaries and a six, was a standout club achievement. Manor finished on 205 for 8, a remarkable transformation after being 63 for 2 at the 20-over mark, having blasted 142 runs in the final 20 overs.

Clymping’s reputation rested on two formidable batters, but Tinu Sameja made short work of their top order with a fierce Manor-best spell of 4 overs, 2 maidens, 17 runs, and 5 wickets—including three bowled. At the other end, Tareq Ahmed continued his impressive start for the club, claiming 2 wickets for just 9 runs in 4 overs, as Clymping crumbled to 26 for 7. The final three wickets fell to Steve Luckhurst, whose 1.4 overs yielded 3 wickets for 4 runs, thanks to sharp catches from Ahmed, Kelly, and Curran. The hosts were bowled out for a mere 34—eerily matching Brown’s earlier score—in just 11.4 overs, surely one of the swiftest innings on record.

The emphatic 171-run victory entered the record books as Manor’s seventh-largest win by runs. Looking ahead, Manor will host second-placed Pagham 3rds next week while sitting third in the table. The day was further marked by Brown surpassing 2,500 First XI career runs and Chris Salt notching up his 150th club catch, capping off a memorable outing for the team.
MOM, Jaimie.


On Sunday, Manor fielded a spirited IX—yes, just nine players—at the picturesque Chailey ground, marking the first Saturday/Sunday double-header since August 2004, excluding overseas tours. Acting skipper Steve Luckhurst lost the toss in scorching 80-degree heat, much to the team's disappointment, and a 70-over match commenced, with the first innings capped at 37 overs.

From the opening ball, which was hammered through the covers for four, it was apparent Manor lacked some bowling firepower. Nevertheless, their enthusiasm, determination, and unmistakable Sunday cricket spirit shone through, rekindling fond memories for those who recalled the old days. The top three batters retired after reaching fifty, so the first wicket didn't fall until the scoreboard read 177 in just 24 overs, and a total of 250 seemed within reach. Luckhurst claimed a wicket thanks to a sprawling catch by Brown behind the stumps. Seven bowlers rotated through the attack, and six substitute fielders were strategically positioned at long-off at both ends. Despite several dropped catches, the team persevered. Amar Reddy , Dave Price (making his bowling debut for Manor), Yas, and Dipen Patel pitched in, with Dipen bravely completing the only five-over spell in the intense heat (skip giving every bowler 4 max in each spell). Amar also produced a run-out by deflecting a ball off his own bowling. With six of the nine players over 50 years old, everyone was simply thrilled to be part of the action. Their opponents declared after 31 overs, although Skip requested one more so that Liz could become the first woman to bowl away for the 1st XI. The innings concluded at 209 for 2.

After a lengthy, much-needed tea break to cool down, Manor's openers Patel and Luckhurst forged a partnership of 43 in 11 overs, capitalizing on loose deliveries on a wicket that suddenly seemed far more challenging. Dipen contributed 17 before edging to slip off Chailey’s lively 17-year-old bowler Suvir, who also bowled Luckhurst for 24, featuring five boundaries. Brown was adjudged LBW for 9, and Yas met a similar fate for 7. Next up, Roberts joined Amar at the crease. Amar immediately made an impact, launching a six to get off the mark and continuing to thrill, racking up 43 runs in 43 minutes with four sixes and four fours. Among his highlights were a one-handed swipe over square leg and two seemingly impossible sixes over extra cover. Amar was bowled at 122 for 5, just shy of a well-deserved fifty. Roberts played a solid innings, including two glorious fours through long on, but ultimately departed for 21, having put on 51 with Amar in just six overs.

The ‘short’ tail end—batters seven, eight, and nine—delivered a memorable finish. Liz recorded a career-best 6 not out, including her very first boundary after 30 matches and 13 innings for Manor. The crowd erupted as the ball crept over the boundary. Dave Price and Mike Fielder both celebrated their maiden runs for the club, and the team finished with a commendable 139 all out/for 8, an impressive feat. Amar earned Player of the Match honours for his dynamic batting, sharp bowling, and energetic fielding. Well played, Manor! This enjoyable outing hopefully signals the return of more Sunday fixtures in the future.

This week’s team for the matchup against league leaders Clymping

This week’s man of the match - skipper Darren Radford!

It was a close game on Saturday, but unfortunately we came up just short. Here is the match report.

Manor arrived at Hillbarn West bracing themselves for a challenging encounter against Broadwater 3rds, with the ominous threat of heavy rain looming over the day. Seizing the initiative, Skipper Radford opted to field first, and the hosts responded steadily, reaching a solid 63-1 at the 20-over mark. Rick Kelly and Tareq Ahmed bowled with remarkable discipline, keeping the scoring in check. Tinu Sameja then delivered his allotted 9 overs with impressive economy, conceding just 21 runs for one wicket, while Steve Pengelly’s spin also added pressure.

Throughout the innings, Broadwater’s opener capitalised on any wayward deliveries—and occasionally even the good ones— keeping the scoreboard ticking. With wickets in hand, Broadwater accelerated, playing increasingly aggressive shots as the innings progressed. Spencer anchored their effort, eventually run out agonisingly close to the end for a well-crafted 63. In the closing overs, Luckhurst and Radford each claimed a late wicket, whilst wicket keeper, Brown snatched two run outs in successive balls, but Broadwater managed to push their total to a competitive 150-7.

Manor’s reply got off to a rocky start. Opener Pengelly was bowled on just the second ball. Yas Iqbal, after making 11, was caught trying to take on a wide one and Nick Brown fell LBW for 7 to a sharply swinging yorker. Jamie Funnell and Radford offered a glimmer of hope, rebuilding to 52-3, but Funnell’s innings ended at 16 with a sharp catch at point. The middle order quickly crumbled—Salt (0) and Curran (1) departing in rapid succession—leaving Manor reeling at 57-6 after 20 overs.

Kelly (8) offered some resistance, supporting Radford as the score inched to 95 before he too succumbed to the relentless accuracy of left-arm bowler Hewitt. Tareq Ahmed continued his impressive start with Manor, playing a fluent innings, but when Radford, who had anchored the chase with a composed 51, was dismissed at 113-8, the task looked increasingly daunting. Ahmed pressed on to 25, then with Luckhurst joining Sameja, Manor needed just 12 runs from the final 19 balls—surely within reach.

However, cricket’s unpredictability struck. On the first ball of the 38th over, Sameja lofted a drive that sailed high, only to be safely pouched by the keeper. Manor fell just short, losing by 11 runs. Attention now turns to next week’s fixture against Clymping II’s, who currently top the table after three matches. Manor will be eager to regroup and bounce back stronger.

Team news has arrived for our league match on Saturday!