SUSSEX LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Cuckfield remain joint top despite heavy defeat

Brighton and Hove rattled up 242 for 6 at home to Cuckfield with 62 from Michael Rippon, 50 from Martyn Ford, 48 from Chris Atherton and 41 from Chris Grammer as Keshav Maharaj grabbed 3 for 68 for the visitors. But Cuckfield then collapsed to 50 all out as Matt Wood took 5 for 23 and Chris Atherton 5 for 19.

There was real drama at Hastings where Worthing won a relatively low scoring game by just 3 runs after deciding to bat first and being dismissed for 156 of which skipper Darryl Rebbetts made top score of 37 as John Morgan took 3 for 13 and Freddie Hulbert 3 for 50. The Worthing bowling hero was 17 year-old left arm spinner Harry Dunn. He took 5 for 17 in ten overs on his first team debut, grabbing 3 wickets with his first seven balls! Hastings needed 4 to win with two wickets standing but Luke Vinter took two wickets in four balls to win the game for his side with the home club 153 all out.Top scorer was Sussex Academy youngster Elliott Hooper with 31.

Chichester were bowled out for 211 at Preston Nomads with 91 from Chris Kirkham and 34 from Andrew Turner as Patrick Spencer took 5 for 82 from 19.5 overs. Angus Stewart then hit 102 not out to lead Nomads to a six wicket victory at 212 for 4. Jason Robinson made 31 and David Smith 30.

Roffey decided to bat first at East Grinstead and were dismissed for 143 of which Rohit Jagota made 46 and George Fleming a patient 26. For Grinstead it was spin that did the damage as Bradley Hatchett took 4 for 39 and Craig Fowle 3 for 40. The home side tumbled to 19 for 4 and then 64 for 6 before Hatchett completed a great day with 58 not out and James Adkin made 29, For Roffey South African Matt Varner took 4 for 41.

Horsham suffered their first defeat of the season and newly promoted Three Bridges won for the first time in the game at Cricketfield Road. Three Bridges were put in and bowled out for 184 of which Victor Davies hit 72 and Tom Blandford made 35, for Horsham Stuart Whittingham took 4 for 44 on his club debut and Will Beer grabbed 3 for 37. In reply Horsham were dismissed for 153 with Bermudan teenager Carmen Leverock making 31 and Will Beer 31 as Davies completed a good day personally with 4 for 28.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two Eastbourne top the table after winning their third game in a row by an eight wicket margin at Ifield. Goring are hot on their heels, they made it three in a row with a bog win in a low scoring game at St.James’s Bexhill lie third following a two wicket win at Findon.

Ifield collapsed to 88 all out at home to Eastbourne as David Twine took 7 for 24, Paul Clifford, with 25, was top scorer for the home side. In reply England Under-19 keeper, Callum Jackson, made 49 as Eastbourne cruised to 89 for 2 and their third successive victory.

Goring found it very easy at St.James’s despite being dismissed for just 126 of which Shane De Beer made 32, Alex Maynard 34 not out and Dan Pitham 21. For the home side George Taylor took 4 for 23. But St.James’s collapsed to 55 all out in 26.3 overs as Matt Keen took 8 for 20, the League’s best figures so far this season.

Bexhill won a low scoring game at Findon by the narrow margin iof just two wickets.

Findon were dismissed for 149 in 51.3 overs as off spinner Callum Guest took 5 for 43, opener Jack Metters with 52 was top scorer. Skipper Malcolm Johnson led his Bexhill side home with 49 in a total of 153 for 8 as Harry Metters took 4 for 52.

Glynde suffered a very heavy defeat at home to Crowhurst Park, they were beaten by 206 runs! Park declared at 267 for 6 with 78 from Martin Barry as Dominic Shepheard, Dale Tranter and Chris Stanyard each took two wickets. Glynde tumbled to 61 all out in only 21 overs with Bradley Payne, Ed Smeaton and Clive Tonge each taking three wickets.

The remaining game saw Middelton hold out for a draw at Pulborough who they had put in and made 261 for 5 declared, Jonathan Bennett making 138 and Imran Khan 49. Middleton reached stumps at 187 for 7 with Pat Colvin making 66 and Jamie Thompson 44.

DIVISION 3 ROUND-UP EAST

Ansty are the early leaders in Division 3 East after Crawley were demolished by 8 wickets. Leo Anderson and Glen Anson took 3 wickets apiece as Crawley crashed to 75 all out. Ansty completed an 8 wicket win within 20 overs.

Burgess Hill are 2nd some 21 points behind Ansty. They only managed to take 2 wickets after inserting visitors Lindfield. Peter Barron 75, and Kevin Chamberlain 66, were the mainstays of Lindfield’s 210-2 yet Hill came close to victory finishing on 204-7. Jack Simpson hit 88 and Nathan Cooper 46. Lindfield are now third.

Keymer & Hassocks beat Haywards Heath with just 4 balls to spare in a tight finish at Adastra Park. Heath were restricted to 198-9 with Andy Westgate taking 4-77 bowling unchanged throughout the innings. Michael Poole also took 3-65. Keymer’s cause looked lost at 64-4 before Tom Fairfax led the way with 73. Jon Phelps took 3-36 for Haywards Heath.

Hellingly and Rottingdean drew their game after Hellingly posted 196-6.

Alex Potter took 3-53 but despite 58 from James Grantham and 50 from John Hobbs Rottingdean finished on 177-8. Adam Devlin was the pick of the Hellingly bowlers with 3-30.

WEST

Pagham lead the Division 3 West table with a 100% record after three games. They bowled Steyning out for 121 with Wayne Green and Mike Hales taking 3 wickets each. They then withstood a fightback from the home side with left-arm spinner Andy Isaacs returning figures of 4-20. Pagham won by 2 wickets.

Ben Williams took 5-37 as visitors Arundel were rolled over for 110. Billingshurst took a comfortable 7 wicket victory and lie second.

After a disastrous first game Stirlands are now third after beating Bognor Regis by 100 runs. Sean Heather struck 105 and Stirlands’s 200-7 was twice as many as Bognor’s indifferent start to the campaign continued. Sam Taylor top scored with 41 but Struan Cameron bagged 7-41 for the visitors.

Crawley Eagles are in 4th place. They recorded their first County League win after two high scoring draws at home to Henfield. Henfield’s decision to bat only brought them 134 with Rilwan Mohamed and Atif Ali doing the damage with 4-39 and 2-21 respectively. Fazlan Nizamdeen made an unbeaten 47 to ensure a 5 wicket win.

Sikho Camagu made his mark for Slinfold with both bat and ball as Wisborough Green were beaten by 62 runs. First he made 67 not out in Slinfold’s 177-7. Ben Thatcher took three wickets but in vain as Camagu’s 3-23 led to Green collapsing to 115 all out.

Tony Millard/Nick Clarle