SUSSEX LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Nomads clinch league title for fourth time in six years

On Saturday, Grinstead won a low scoring game at Three Bridges by 3 wickets. The two relegated clubs will almost certainly come from Worthing, Chichester or Brighton & Hove, although Three Bridges and Roffey are still not mathematically safe.

On Saturday Nomads bowled out Hastings for just 129 in 48.4 overs with Patrick Spencer taking 6 for 41 and Carl Simon 3 for 38, Jake Woolley with 43 was top scorer for the visitors. Nomads then won the game at 130 for 5 from 23.4 overs as Joe Gatting hit 61 not out and skipper Jeremy Green made 31.

Horsham enjoyed a seven wicket victory at home to Brighton and Hove who they dismissed for just 140 of which Guy Williamson made 32 and Chris Atherton 20 as Michael Munday’s leg spin brought him 6 for 36.

In reply Horsham cruised to 141 for 3 at around six runs per over, with 56 not out from skipper Craig Gallagher and 40 from Ben Shoare. Chris Atherton took 2 for 42.

East Grinstead’s bowlers found the Three Bridges pitch a great ally, they bowled out the home side for just 101. Bradley Gayler was top scorer, he made 42, as Will Adkin took 3 for 22 and Craig Fowle 3 for 13. In reply Grinstead also found runs hard to come by before eventually winning at 105 for 7 with Adkin making 39 not out as Victor Davies took 4 for 36.

The remaining two games were affected by the rain.

Chichester had made 177 for 8 against Roffey with 97 from Mark Bamford as Matt Davies took 3 for 5 but then rain ended proceedings for the day.

At Cuckfield the home side made 225 for 4 declared with 105 not out from Cameron Borgas and 63 from Oliver Altenhorf. When play ended Worthing had reached 42 for 1.

DIVISION TWO

In Division Two leaders Eastbourne need 16 points from their last two games to be sure of promotion and 17 to be sure of the title. Findon’s win at Pulborough on Saturday has taken them into the mix with Goring and Bexhill to challenge for the remaining Premier League place, they have to play Ifield and Glynde in their last two games. The top two, Eastbourne and Goring meet on the final day of the season. The relegation issue is confirmed, Glynde and Pulborough will both go down regardless of their last two results.

Eastbourne cracked 265 for 8 declared after being put in at Goring with 153 from Toby Finzel and 42 from Matt Cooke as Matt Keen took 4 for 55. Goring, suffering from rain interruptions, were bowled out for 128 in 30.2 overs. Barnaby Lyons hit 64 as Matt Cooke took 6 for 42 in 9.2 overs and Henry Smith grabbed 3 for 34.

Crowhurst Park decided to bat first at Bexhill and made a challenging 219 for 8 declared with 87 from Cam Powell as Callum Guest took 4 for 68. In reply 18 year-old Shawn Johnson hit 103 not out from 76 balls to lead the victory chase and with Jon Haffenden making 57 not out Bexhill cruised home at 222 for 3 from 35 overs.

Fidnon made short work of luckless Pulborough who are now certain to be relegated.

Findon were put in and made 207 for 6 declared of which Alasdair Wilson hit 88 and Bradley Bridson 53. Pulborough were then dismissed for 93 of which Luke Burrows made 36 while Findon skipper James Iago took 6 for 38 in 12 overs.

Ifield got the better of Middleton to the tune of 59 runs after batting first and making 202 for 8. Clayton Coultsounis hit 48 and Greg Barton 30 as Brandon Hanley took 4 for 77. In reply Middleton were bowled out for 143 of which Ben Hansford made 62 as Caltsounis took 4 for 59.

Glynde join Pulborough in Division Three nest season and so far have not won a game this season. They lost by 154 runs at St.James’s on Saturday where Trinidadian Anthony Alexander enjoyed a field day. He hit 116 and shared an opening partnership of 166 with skipper Michael Murray (51) to take St. James’s to 229 for 4 declared. Glynde were then dismissed for 75 as Alexander took 7 for 16 and Murray grabbed 3 for 33 to clinch the victory.

DIVISION THREE ROUND UP

EAST

Haywards Heath have taken over at the top of Division 3 East with their 10th consecutive league victory. They completed the double over near neighbours Lindfield by bundling them out for just 56. David Everett bagging 6-15 before Heath completed a 6 wicket victory.

This result more or less finished Ansty’s aspirations of overtaking the top two yet they are still fighting and won by 6 wickets at Rottingdean. Rottingdean’s 153 proved to be insufficient on a benign pitch as Jack Palser’s second spell brought him 4 wickets. Glen Anson added 3-54 in 19 overs before Jon Young led the Ansty reply with 72. Ansty have just one match left to play.

Hellingly beat Burgess Hill by 108 runs with rain threatening to thwart their hopes of victory. George Hook (80) and Zayne Bux (68) gave them a formidable looking total of 248-9. Hugh Warmisham taking a credible 5-52 for the visitors. Adam Devlin’s 5-43 left Hill well short at 140 with just 7 balls remaining.

Crawley recorded a 142 run victory away to Lewes Priory. They declared on 246-8 with Rhett Bridgens hitting 73 not out and Pabh Singh 50. Jacob Fookes took 6-26 as Priory crashed to 104 all out.

WEST

Billingshurst are potentially one game away from the Division 3 West title needing just 5 points after an emphatic 8 wicket win at home to Wisborough Green. Green opted to bat but were shot out for just 100 as Ben Williams took 5-25. Dhanuska Mitipolrachchi also took 2 wickets before his rapid 63 not out brought the home side victory in a little over 14 overs.

Stirlands also won, by 5 wickets at Arundel. Arundel reached 183-9 on being asked to bat first with Nick Hunt taking 5-67. Stirlands have therefore kept their faint hopes of overtaking Billingshurst alive for at least another week.

After a sluggish start to the season Bognor Regis have crept up the table and now sit in third place after a narrow victory at Henfield. 58 from Ryan Maskell helped post 190-9 and despite 89 from Brett Moore Henfield fell just short on 179. Sam Taylor taking 5-37 for Bognor. Steyning recovered from 57-6 to 143 all out away to Crawley Eagles as Adil Mustafa took 5-37. The Eagles then completed a 5 wicket success.

Pagham scored a 36 run win over Slinfold having set the visitors 175 to win.

TONY MILLARD/NICK CLARKE