Sussex League cricket champions Preston Nomads continue to sweep all before them but Cuckfield will have been disappointed not to at least keep within range after young Matt Boote plundered 184 to lead them to a massive 351-6 at Three Bridges.
The 19-year-old South African, on a gap year teaching at Lancing College dominated a Cuckfield innings in which Danny Alderman took 3-100 and there were three run-outs.
That total proved out of reach for the hosts but they put up a good show by reac
hing 278-8 as Mark Newell made 78 and Sean Alborough 68. Jack Denyer took 3-30.
After the previous Sunday's ray of sunshine, there was more gloom for Haywards Heath as they crashed to a seven-wicket defeat at Hastings. Home skipper Jason Finch hit 73 not out and Richard Young was unbeaten on 46 as a modest Heath total of 179 was passed comfortably.
Earlier, Tom Dowdall (40) and Stuart Faith (30) offered the main resistance as John Morgan took 3-61.
Preston Nomads completed their eighth win in nine starts when beating Brighton & Hove by nine wickets.
Brighton were dismissed for 177 as Stephen Rigg (4-33) and Kashif Ibrahim (3-63) did the damage. Only Matt Machan with 79 posed a stumbling block before Joe Gatting was again in dominant form for Nomads, hitting 90 not out and sharing a big stand with Jeremy Green (82no).
There was a tie at East Grinstead where the hosts were bowled out for 170 as Cullen Bailey top scored with 48 and Eastbourne's Jack Hepburn took 3-48. In reply, the visitors also made exactly 170 with John Snashall contributing 37 and Alex Pollard 46.
Bottom club Lewes Priory made their biggest total of the season to take maximum batting points at home to Horsham but still it did not prove enough. They declared at 238-8 with John Aspden (88) and Tom Sharp (67) adding 129 for the fourth wicket. Luke Marshall took 3-61.
Horsham also had a profitable fourth wicket stand as match winner Sam Attfield (103no) and New Zealander Michael Bates (67) added 151 to help their side to a three-wicket win.
Sussex Premier League results for Saturday June 27 (*team winning toss): *Brighton & Hove (6) 177 (Matt Machan 79) lost to Preston Nomads (30) 181-1 (Joe Gatting 90no, Jeremy Green 82no); *East Grinstead (15) 170 tied with Eastbourne (15) 170; *Haywards Heath (7) 179 lost to Hastings (30) 183-3 (Jason Finch 75no); Lewes Priory (13) 238-8dec (John Aspden 88, Tom Sharp 67) lost to *Horsham (26) 240-7 (Sam Attfield 102no, Michael Bates 67); *Cuckfield (14) 351-6dec (Matt Boote 184) drew with Three Bridges (11) 278-8 (Mark Newell 78, Sean Alborough 68).
Fixtures for Saturday July 4: Eastbourne v Hasting & St Leonards Priory; Haywards Heath v Cuckfield; Horsham v East Grinstead; Lewes Priory v Brighton & Hove; Preston Nomads v Three Bridges.
