Cricket: Middleton and Pagham both draw in thrillers

Middleton and Pagham drew their latest games in the top two divisions of the Sussex League, but both sides can be pleased with their recent form.
Stuart Rutter at the crease for Pagham versus Worthing / Picture by Kate Shemilt KS1500242-8Stuart Rutter at the crease for Pagham versus Worthing / Picture by Kate Shemilt KS1500242-8
Stuart Rutter at the crease for Pagham versus Worthing / Picture by Kate Shemilt KS1500242-8

Here are the latest reports...

Preston Nomads v Middleton

Sussex Premier League

Middleton held out for a draw away to top-of-the-table Preston Nomads to keep their unbeaten run going.

With Toby Macer and Ali Davis making their first starts in the team this season, they found themselves fielding first and again made early inroads into the opposition’s top order.

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Two wickets from Jofra Archer and one each from Jamie Thompson and Anthony Ender saw Nomads reduced to 56 for four.

Rob Wakeford steadied things in a partnership of 43 with Aaron Phillips and Middleton missed the chance to dismiss him, dropping him when on nine. This proved costly as he went on to score 94.

The eventual fall of his wicket in the 55th over with the score on 253 brought about Nomads’ declaration seven wickets down.

The Middleton response got off to the worst possible start with Sean Heather dismissed off the fourth ball of the innings, his off-stump being sent cartwheeling out of the ground by Nomads’ opening bowler Carl Simon.

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Further wickets fell and at 67 for four after 31 overs Middleton had an uphill struggle in front of them. But Beck Hemingway, having opened the innings, was joined by Patrick Colvin and they shared a partnership of 108.

Colvin’s 50 came in 36 minutes and 45 balls and he was finally out for 73. Ender joined Hemingway and tried to carry on where Colvin left off hitting a quickfire 18.

Simon returned to the attack and in the third over of his second spell bowled Hemingway with the score on 88 and the total 208.

Middleton, having gone for the win, found themselves eight down at the start of the final over, and when Simon bowled Neil Pacey with the fifth ball, it left Davis to survive the last ball. He did – denying Nomads maximum points from the game.

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This Saturday Middleton host second-placed Roffey at Sea Lane.

Pagham v Worthing

Sussex League division two

On a day made for batting, Pagham won the toss and had no hesitation in doing just that.

Against good accurate bowling from John Glover and Martin Swift, the home side reached 65 for one.

The drinks break often brings a wicket and this saw Stuart Rutter bowled for 24 and Joe Turner very well caught and bowled for one.

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This brought together Ryan Barratt and Eranga Dissangge, who put on 132 for the fourth wicket. Barratt finished on 74, Eranga 71.

Pagham decided to go for quick runs with the hope of an early declaration but the regular fall of wickets kept the score in check and they had to bat their maximum 53 overs in reaching 254 for nine.

Jo Metz ended on a quickfire 30 not out.

Swift finished with five for 47 thanks to superb wicketkeeping from Gooding, who made three brilliant leg-side stumpings to go with his two catches.

Worthing made a disastrous start losing three wickets for 12, Mike Hales responsible for all three. Worthing continued to struggle and 120 for seven it looked like a Pagham win.

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Defiant batting, though, from Glover (69), Nick Oxley (36) and Ian Gooding (26) saw a recovery.

Although Nabid Rehaman (4-45) took the ninth wicket in the last over he couldn’t get the all-important tenth.

The match ended in a thrilling draw with Worthing on 201 for nine. Hales finished with four for 36 and mention must be made of Pagham’s slip catching especially Joe Turner’s catch to dismiss Andy Reid, which was outstanding.

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