Cricket round-up: Smith's in good Nick at Eastergate

Eastergate Cricket Club held their colts presentation night.

Highlights of the season included an opening knock of 117 not out by Nicholas Smith, who is just nine, in the under-11 Sussex youth cricket festival against Worthing Chippendale.

Nicholas has just finished his second season with the county under-tens. He also bowled a club record of five overs, five maidens, taking four wickets.

East Preston v Aldwick

Aldwick's penultimate game of the season provided some good performances but they fell short of victory by 56 runs.

Good tight bowling from Aldwick's opening bowler Ollie Smith (2-24) and further wickets for Liam Hicks, Richard Galvin, Keelan Belcher, Ian Guppy and Jonny Knapp prevented the home side running away with it.

S Rebbetts (90) top-scored for Preston but fell to the second of Knapp's great catches of the day.

Aldwick's reply started dismally with a third-ball duck for opener Adam Rutter. But partner Ian Demers' destruction of the bowling earned him a quick 42. With Jay Ahuji (25), Demers put on 50 in just 6.2 overs.

Then skipper Keelan Belcher (47) joined in the fun and the 100 came up in 14.2 overs. But the remaining batsmen did not join in with the fun, and the visitors slipped to 158 all out.

Pagham v Aldwick

In Aldwick's 84th and final game of the season, victory was achieved with just eight balls remaining in an exciting finale.

Aldwick got off to great start with keeper Chris Redman stumping Pagham skipper Bill Robson for a single.

After the skipper's exit, Ben Robson (76) joined Graham Finlayson (45) to make amends and batted well together.

Ian Dyer's 55 not out was a valuable contribution to the total. Skipper Robson declared on 209 for four.

Nathan Belcher (2-32) and Adam Rutter (2-53) were Aldwick's

wicket-takers.

In reply, Demers brutally despatched the home side's attack to all corners with a speedy 77. But wickets tumbled until Nathan Belcher nosed Aldwick ahead with a quick 52.

It was left to Ollie Smith and Richard Galvin to scrape 18 runs for the ninth wicket and allow Aldwick to head into the winter and some well-earned rest with a victory.

Walberton v Salthill

All Walberton's batsmen made a contribution, with Richie Lockwood top-scoring with 25.

Luke Vinter was close behind with 24, though like Peter Brackley (11), he was dismissed off the bowling of G Ruell.

Nick Jackson (14) and Phil Harbord (19) helped push up the total, but the surprise tenth-wicket partnership between Ed Squires (14) and Andy Bist (16no) pushed Walberton on to 150.

Salthill looked comfortable at the halfway point. However, when Luke Vinter and Richie Lockwood came on the bowl, wickets started to fall.

N Hyatt (12) and J Arnold (15) were dismissed by Nick Jackson, while Bist dismissed J Almack (9) and A Wallsgrove (13).

The breakthrough was the dismissal of top scorer N Bishop (36) by Lockwood, aided by Nick Botting. A Beal added 14 before falling to Vinter.

Youngster Jordan Bist (8no) '“ son of Walberton's Andy and a last-minute draft for Salthill '“ impressively hit two boundaries, but his tenth-wicket partner Ruell (6) was dismissed by Andy Bist to give Walberton a 20-run victory.

Tillington v West Chiltington & Thakeham

West Chiltington batted first but two wickets each for Murray and Wickham left them 85 for four.

When Aussie Armstrong came to the crease he began to find his form.

They put on 99 before Denton was out for 50. Armstrong accelerated to score 76 not out in 197 for eight.

Murray took five for 59, Wickham two for 39.

In Tillington's innings, Armstrong and Reeves bowled a good spell to leave a difficult chase even harder.

After 69 for two became 97 for six, survival was now the priority. Spicer and Murray saw out the last four overs to ensure the draw at 113 for seven.

Steve Hodd top-scored with 51 and Clark (11) was the only other to reach double figures. Llewellyn (3-13) and Hasler (2-28) were pick of the bowlers.

Goodwood v Steyning

Goodwood lost an entertaining game by eight runs. Carter and Sam Grant started confidently and Johnny Heaven bowled impressively with no luck.

Smith chipped in with a wicket and Pete Willmer returned four for 19.

Alex Clifton was superb in the field, taking three catches, but Goodwood leaked 14 in the last over.

Many batsmen made starts when Goodwood replied. Johnny Clifton made a solid 67, backed up by Heaven's 28, but wickets fell. Pete Eade's aggression was not enough.

Ashling v Twelfth Men

Ashling were restricted to 125 for seven by lively, accurate bowling.

Aussie Tom Sully top-scored with 42, with Paul Colley's 38 not out and Nic Loubser's 25 valuable contributions.

Kirby was the pick of the Twelfth Men bowlers with three for 15.

Ashling took two wickets before a run was on the board, but Blacoe's 58 and Saleem's 36 saw Twelfth Men home for the loss of six wickets.