Cricket: Bognor still on top ... Chichester undone by Portslade

Sussex League division three

On a fine day at the Regis Oval, the visitors won the toss and elected to bat. An early strike from Bognor seamer Josh Broad was followed up by two wickets for Jim Lee (2-41) and Steyning found themselves 76 for three.

Steyning’s Ben Shellford top-scored with 56 but, not for the first time this season, Bognor’s impish left-arm spinner Joe Ashmore plucked out Steyning’s middle and lower order taking four for 24 and with Broad’s two for 12, the visitors were bowled out for 170.

In reply, the lively young opening pairing of Mikey Harris and Max Ashmore made a solid start, compiling a 63-run opening partnership.

Harris was dismissed for 33 and Ashmore departed for 41 with 71 required but captain fantastic and South African supremo Zayne Bux glided the ball around the Regis Oval for a fluid 73 not out.

With Bux’s innings containing 15 fours, Bognor won the contest by eight wickets and retain top spot.

Chichester v Portslade

Division three

The latest visitors to sunny Priory Park were Portslade, who, unlike Chichester, had yet to win a match.

The home side asked the visitors to bat first. In just the second over, Chichester had a breakthrough when Dan Weigl removed Portslade’s opener David Wainwright lbw.

Portslade struggled to build any partnerships as the dashing Weigl and fellow opening bowler Matt Geffen tore into their top order. After just 21 overs the visitors were 51 for seven and the match looked like it would be over before tea.

Portslade’s lower-order batsmen offered resistance and their eight and ninth wicket partnerships added 33 and occupied the creased for nearly 20 overs.

With the score 84 for nine, Chichester failed to hold on to a catch and the visitors’ final batsman was given a reprieve, something that would come back to haunt the hosts later on. Mark Gravett and Nick Clark added 34 for the last wicket before Portslade were bowled out for 119.

Australian Weigl took his first five-wicket haul, finishing with seven for 39.

With a low target to chase, Chichester were looking to bat positively; however, things began to unravel very quickly.

After the first ten overs, Chichester were 31 for five and the visitors began to sense an extremely-unlikely victory.

Portslade spinners Paul Glover and Steven Case were bamboozling the home side and despite resistance from wicketkeeper John Edwards (25no), wickets continued to fall.

Glover polished off the lower order with six for 21 as Chichester were bowled out for 89. Spectators in Priory Park were stunned into silence as Portslade won the match by 30 runs, something that looked extremely unlikely just hours earlier.

Chichester were left to rue several dropped catches and a missed opportunity for a victory.

Chichester need to pick themselves up quickly for two matches this weekend. They travel to Burgess Hill on Saturday in the league and on Sunday they host Middleton in the second round of the T20 Cup.

Crawley 2nds v Bognor 2nds

Sussex League division three west

Veteran seamer Rich Cox continued his excellent early-season form for Bognor. Winning the toss and bowling, the big man rolled back the years and claimed his third consecutive five-wicket haul, bagging five for 12.

With two wickets apiece for fellow old boy Andy McGregor (2-28) and young flower Tanya Wake (2-11), Crawley were bowled out for 62.

Bognor did not hang around as suave southpaw Ollie Adams thundered a brisk 50 not out, the left hander seeing Bognor home with a ten-wicket win in exactly ten overs. The result sees Bognor up to fifth.

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