Chichester Priory Park rout Roffey to keep up title chase
Chichester Priory Park CC’s 1st XI enjoyed their annual return to their spiritual home in Priory Park, securing a commanding eight-wicket victory over Roffey 2nds.
In doing so they ensured things remained tight at the top of the Sussex Division 3 table while providing great entertainment for the picnicking public of Chichester.
On a day neither captain wanted to lose the toss in the now customary 30C heat, the Chi skipper’s luck ran out, with Roffey choosing to bat. But Roffey never really got going against a disciplined Chichester bowling attack.
Regular wickets prevented any meaningful partnerships from developing, and the visitors were eventually dismissed for 127 in 33.1 overs.
The home side’s bowling unit maintained excellent control, keeping the scoring rate in check and applying pressure in the field. The pick of the Chi bowlers were Elijah Stead and Tim Wergen, picking up four wickets apiece, with Elliot Scott and Ollie Davies also grabbing a wicket each.
In reply, Chichester made light work of the chase. The top order batted positively, whilst remaining composed.
They played some glorious shots that made the most of the lightning fast outfield. Wergen scored 54, Toby Toft 41 and Simon Hasted 34not our, ensuring Chi reached the target with eight wickets in hand after just 24.5 overs.
On an excellent batting pitch this further highlighted how impressive the bowling display was to restrict the visitors to a low total.
The comprehensive win secured the full 30 league points – an excellent return to form following a disappointing result the previous week and avenging a similarly one-sided affair at Roffey earlier in the season. Chichester – who are second, 23 points behind leaders Steyning – will be hoping the winning momentum continues as they visit Middleton this week.
Chichester Priory Park 2nds fell to a five-wicket defeat away to Goring-by-Sea CC despite posting a competitive 210-9 from their 40 overs.
After being asked to bat, Chichester recovered well from an early wobble thanks to an excellent 57 from Fred Huggett before Matthew Croker shifted the momentum with a superb 70 from 41 balls.
Useful contributions from Ben Hubbard (22), Finlay Rustell (16) and Sravan Sajeev (14) helped the visitors to a challenging total. Goring shared the wickets around, with Ruan Smit, Oliver Watkins and Vengateshwaran Vijay all claiming two.
Goring's reply got off to a strong start through Benjamin Whitehead (42) before David Rogers' unbeaten 67 proved the difference. Priory Park fought hard, with Sravan Sajeev claiming three wickets, while George Hobkirk and Finlay Rustell picked up one wicket each, but the hosts got to victory in just 30.2 overs.
Chi PP threes cisited Crawley to face Himani in Division 7 West. The hosts won the toss and elected to bat. Saqib Khushnood snared three wickets and while Oscar Dutton was wicket less his miserly shell of eight overs for 25 piled on the pressure.
Matt Brown, 2-18, and Rupert Gillett, 2-17, bowled with good control and Musawer took a wicket with his first ball as the hosts ended on 135 from 40 overs.
In reply Hanif Shakoori anchored the innings as batters came and went, ably supported by Ben Kuntze.
It was at 60-6 when James Mayne joined Stu Gillett, and Gillett scored steadily while Mayne defended. It was left to Mayne to carve the winning boundary – and CPP maintained a promotion spot.
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Arundel v Aldwick
Division 5 West
Aldwick were delighted to play in the beautiful Arundel Castle Grounds, where Arundel decided to bat. Oli Ward’s 106 saw Arundel to a combative 215 all out, Brenen Matla taking 3-42.
Aldwick made steady progress with Joel Lodge scoring 68 and Ian Horner 28. The excitement came with two balls to go with the scores tied. Ben Bambridge hit the ball in the air and was dropped. He scrambled a single to maintain Aldwock’s unbeaten record in a one-wicket win.
In Division 12 West (South), Aldwick travelled to Petworth and restricted the home side to 178-6. Jaydon Wellsted and Dan Cox took three wickets each.
Cox scored 43 and with Emily Lovelock, 39, put on 81 for the first wicket. Aldwick won by seven wickets with 13 overs to spare.
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Ashling v Knowle Village
A match that ebbed and flowed finally tilted Knowle Village’s way, but only after Ashling’s late collapse turned a seemingly straightforward chase into a tense finale.
Batting first, Knowle Village found themselves struggling at 32 for 4. But Dan McLiesh anchored the innings with a composed and increasingly authoritative 75 not out and the visitors reached a competitive 169. Harley Jackson, 4 for 52, led Ashling’s attack.
In Ashling’s reply Stuart Cameron and Josh Wood combined in a fluent second‑wicket stand worth 92. Cameron’s unbeaten 62 and Wood’s confident 55 appeared to have placed the home side on course for victory.
Eight wickets tumbled for just 24 runs as Knowle Village seized the initiative. What had looked like a comfortable chase became a scramble, and as the final wicket fell, Ashling stood seven runs short.