Cricket: Chichester's Jekyll & Hyde season continues

After being on the receiving end of a thorough annihilation at Brighton, the roles were reversed as Chichester gave Roffey a cricketing lesson in Priory Park in the Sussex Premier League.

Despite sunny conditions and what appeared to be a good pitch, Chichester captain Mark Bamford had a gut feeling he should bowl in the event of winning the toss.

Proceedings started slowly because of the miserly bowling of Dan Joseph and Matt Geffen. Both bowled well, but Geffen claimed two for 21 to make early inroads into the Roffey batting.

At 47 for two Roffey were relatively happy with their position, but they would have been distraught at 50 for eight.

The key protagonists in this collapse were James Stedman and Adam Zampa, but some poor batting contributed to their own demise. Zampa produced figures of three for ten from nine overs and Stedman claimed five for 14. In fact, Stedman’s first four wickets came without conceding a run, but it was fitting that he obtained the final wicket in his devastating spell with the score at 74. Josh Fleming top-scored with 23.

The outcome had effectively been decided but early wickets could have provided Chichester with a nervous run chase.

Fortunately, openers Chris Kirkham and Bamford steered the home side to victory without loss. Bamford was a mere spectator at one end and closed with 13 not out from 23 balls.

Kirkham produced another impressive display of stroke-making and smashed 62 not out from only 42 balls to enable the home side to reach their victory target in 10.3 overs.

Chichester are fourth in the league and entertain struggling Eastbourne this week.