Invitation League round up: Arundel the new Division One leaders

In Division 1, Arundel are the new leaders after a three-wicket home win against Ram.

West Chilt moved up to second in a very congested table with a relatively comfortable six-wicket win at bottom club Clymping.

Mick Armstrong and Malcolm Fitzgerald took seven wickets between them to help bowl the hosts out for 120; Jack Elliott-Monday and Tim Jarvis then ensured the early loss of two wickets for no runs was academic as the visitors got home with time to spare.

Young Chilt leg spinner Charlie Davies said: “It was good to have my fellow spinner Malcolm back. He bowls a nagging length which induces mistakes from batsmen. We’re building some momentum at last.”

Neighbours Southwater remain unbeaten like Chilt after a winning draw at Littlehampton, Clapham and Patching.

The visitors made 205-9 off 48 overs and LCP had made 140-7 when the overs ran out.

St Andrews continued their good start to the season with a winning draw at Felbridge. Saints made 214-5 off 48 overs before a last wicket stand frustrated them, leaving Felbridge on 155-9.

Next weekend, Arundel travel to Southwater in the game of the day; East Preston - the only side still without a win - host Littlehampton in another coastal derby; Ram play Felbridge in Crawley and St Andrews host Clymping.

In Division Two, Broadbridge Heath remain top after a winning draw at Broadwater. Visiting Heath were put into bat and were bowled out for 162, David Baker and Sam MacDonald the joint top scorers with 42.

In reply Broadwater reached 104-5 from 45 overs.

In the same division, Storrington’s batting folded at home to Horsham Trinity. The visitors made 166-8 off their 49 overs, opener Louie Donnelly with 54 runs, before Storrington collapsed to 84 all out.

Trinity’s Michael White claimed figures of 4-10, though one bright spot for the Swans was Mike Duddy, who continued his good form with the bat making 44.

Also in Division Two, Crawley Eagles chased down Selsey’s first innings total of 196 in 49 overs for the loss of just three wickets, largely thanks to a fine unbeaten knock of 118 from opening batsman Azam Riyard. Falah Uddin also contributed 56 runs batting at number four.

The division’s other game saw Chippingdale beat Scaynes Hill. Aaron Tugnutt hit 81 runs as Chippingdale were all out for 165, and then Nisar Ul Mustafa’s 5-32 helped bowl Hill out for 143 as they just fell short of the chase.

Barns Green won at home in Division Three. They bowled Himani out for 180 and then got the runs for seven wickets.

Elsewhere in the division, Aldwick beat Southwick, Crawley Nayee won at home against Brighton & Hove 3rd XI and Eastergate beat Worthing 3rd XI.

In Division Four, runaway leaders West Wittering 1st XI failed to make it five wins from five in a winning draw with Partridge Green 1st XI, who are now bottom.

Skipper Carl Tupper made a ton in Wittering’s 200-8 before Green were seven down, but 60 runs behind when the overs ran out.

West Chilt 2nds are now next to bottom after their week off ahead of this weekend’s game with Horsham 3rds.

Elsewhere in Division Four, Findon 3rd XI beat Arundel 2nd XI, Horsham 3rds beat Felbridge & Sunnyside 2nd XI and Southwater 2nd XI beat St Matthias.