Aldwick Cricket Club have two reasons to celebrate

Aldwick’s second XI entertained Forge Wood from Crawley in a Division 11 West play-off to decide who wins promotion to Division 10 West.

Forge Wood asked Aldwick to bat and Joel Lodge, 32, and Liam Tinson, 24, got them off to a good start putting on 54.

Ramesh Puthenveetil, 3-23, and Jibin Rajendran, 4-24, pegged Aldwick back to 144 all out.

Forge Wood’s innings started with an amazing open spell by Jaydon Wellsted, who bowled five straight maidens and took two wickets. He was backed up by Tom Cripps, who bowled nine overs for 18 runs.

Nawwal Khan, 26, and Jibin Rajendran, 25, held the innings together but 5-39 from Tanveer Ahmed and 3-16 from Ollie Smith bowled out Forge Wood for 94, giving Aldwick a long overdue promotion.

In junior cricket, Aldwick entertained Brighton in the Sussex Festival girls’ under-14 final.

Brighton decided to bat and were bowled out for 46. Charlotte Lovelock took 2-10, Chloe Kent 2-11 and Rumer Brown 3-5.

Chloe Kent scored 17 and Charlotte Lovelock 12* to take Aldwick home by five wickets.

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Ashling CC closed their 2026 campaign with an 18‑run defeat to Portsmouth Community CC at Down Street, a result that belied a dramatic late surge led by captain Will Chrystal.

Portsmouth, having won the toss, made steady progress to post 217 for 6. Ashling’s attack was led by James Lander, who claimed 4 for 43, and James Bailey, 2 for 18.

Ashling’s reply began brightly with 44 on the board before the first wicket fell, but momentum soon evaporated as a collapse left them reeling at 127 for 9.

Chrystal mounted a defiant rearguard, compiling a superb 75, and finding unexpected support from No. 11 Steve Harvey, who finished unbeaten on 1. Together they added 72 for the final wicket, dragging Ashling to 199 and briefly threatening an extraordinary comeback.

Ultimately, the target remained just out of reach, leaving Ashling to reflect on a spirited but unsuccessful finale to their season.