Down stake their title claim

VIDEO: With plenty of rain about on Saturday, Division 1 leaders Crawley Down dodged the showers to take a big step towards the title.
Balcombe (bowling) v Crawley Down. Dom Baum battingBalcombe (bowling) v Crawley Down. Dom Baum batting
Balcombe (bowling) v Crawley Down. Dom Baum batting

They were the only team to win in the top division, restricting hosts Balcombe to 197-9 and then easing to a five-wicket win as Warren Barker carried his bat for 82 and under 16 Sam Jackson made 62.

Earlier Dominic Baun top scored for the hosts with 48.

Second-placed Streat were 14-2 after nine overs chasing a mighty 273-5 set by bottom club Preston Nomads III, while champions Ashdown Forest slipped further adrift as rain thwarted their victory bid after they made a formidable 313-3 in only 38.1 overs at Poynings.

Balcombe (bowling) v Crawley Down. Dom Baum battingBalcombe (bowling) v Crawley Down. Dom Baum batting
Balcombe (bowling) v Crawley Down. Dom Baum batting
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Top individual score of the day came in the other match in Division 1 as Steve Smith hit an 149 not out for Edenbridge. They made 259-8 before Colemans Hatch replied with 129-4 in the 25th over. Roger Thorogood (60no) and Steve Medhurst (32no) were building a good stand when the rain came.

Division 2 leaders Dormansland suffered their first defeat when they went down by three runs with only two balls remaining at lowly Balcombe II.

Easing the blow for the leaders was the fact that second placed East Grinstead III were the only other losers in this division as they missed out at Chailey, where Danny Andrews (87), Jeremy Blick (54no) and Willie Boone (53no) led the hosts to an eight-wicket victory chasing a total of 218.

Half centuries from Hurstpierpoint’s James Bushell (58) and Jon Crickmore (51) came to nothing as the weather intervened at Staplefield, while James Flower hit 43 off 26 balls in a bid to beat the weather as Bolney chased a meagre Smallfield total of 128-8.

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Horsted Keynes were 86-3 in the 20th over when the rain came as they chased a Cuckfield III total of 194-6.

Cowden’s bid to close the gap on resting Division 3 leaders Roffey III were dealt a harsh blow by the weather. Andy Hancock (55) had helped them to 138-5 chasing a Preston Nomads IV total of 169 when the rain came.

The bottom two met in this division and it was finely balanced when the abandonment came. Dan Small had taken 8-75 for bottom club Turners Hill as they bowled out East Grinstead IV for 172 and then made 108-4 in reply.

Ardingly II were cursing their luck as John Hopkins (91no) and Immi Ahamed (62) led them to 228-4 before Burgess Hill III were reduced to 54-6 in 19 overs.

All games in this division were abandoned.

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