Crushing win keeps Priory top

Priory remain four points clear of Horsham at the top of the Sussex Cricket League Premier Division with a game in hand following a 155-run success at home to Brighton & Hove.

Matt Machan smashed 129 off as many balls and Max Finzel hit 95 as Priory amassed 298-3 declared batting first. Mick Glazier then took 6-34 off 8.5 overs to bowl out Brighton for 143.

Third-placed Preston Nomads, who were without a game on Saturday, lost ground with defeat to the Sussex Development XI on Sunday.

Bexhill continued their good form in Division Two with a 22-run success away to Lewes Priory which moved them within four points of the two promotion places.

Jack Richardson made 50 and Shawn Johnson 43 in Bexhill’s 169 batting first. Jamie Bristow-Diamond then bagged 7-26 off 13.1 overs as Lewes collapsed from 128-3 to 147 all out in reply.

Sidley stay top of Division Three, but the chasing pack closed in after they went down by one wicket in a low-scoring thriller at home to Lindfield.

Peter King top-scored with 49 as Sidley were dismissed for 113 batting first. Paul Swannell claimed 5-40 and King 3-28 to reduce Lindfield to 90-9 in reply only for a last wicket stand of 24 to see the visitors home.

Crowhurst Park lost by 48 runs away to Seaford in the same division. Seaford totalled 168 batting first with Victor Walcott taking three wickets and Park were all out for 120 in reply, Martin Barry making 36.

Full reports on each of these games will appear in Friday’s Observers.

Standings (played 13 matches unless stated) - Premier Division: 1 HASTINGS PRIORY 287pts, 2 Horsham (14) 283, 3 Preston Nomads 263, 4 East Grinstead (14) 256, 5 Roffey 202, 6 Brighton & Hove 177, 7 Three Bridges 176, 8 Eastbourne 154, 9 Pulborough (14) 146, 10 Chichester Priory Park 142.

Division 2: 1 Worthing 304, 2 Glynde & Beddingham (12) 224, 3 Haywards Heath (12) 220, 4 BEXHILL 220, 5 St James’s Montefiore 210, 6 Cuckfield (12) 208, 7 Goring By Sea (12) 200, 8 Lewes Priory 150, 9 Ifield (12) 139, 10 Stirlands (12) 139.

Division 3 (East): 1 SIDLEY 243, 2 Hellingly 240, 3 Seaford (12) 238, 4 Lindfield (12) 226, 5 Burgess Hill 202, 6 Ansty (12) 200, 7 CROWHURST PARK (12) 195, 8 Uckfield Anderida (12) 189, 9 Keymer & Hassocks 175, 10 Crawley (12) 159.