Cuckfield close gap on leaders Horsham

After losing the toss, Cuckfield faced the task of having to bowl first on a slow, damp pitch. Despite the windy conditions, Cuckfield’s opening bowlers Mann and Weston found early success, Mann bowling Wood for 4, before an inside edge saw Green caught by Silk off Weston, also for 4.

Young and Oxley came together and set about rebuilding, playing late and looking to punish anything too short or too full. This tactic, however, proved fatal as Young chipped to extra cover, followed by Oxley mis-timing a pull shot to be caught at mid-on, both off Patterson.

The introduction of Hayward saw another wicket fall, a top-edged cut shot caught at point. At 63-5 Cuckfield sniffed an opportunity to bowl the hosts out cheaply.

However, Ballamy, having initially struggled with the turn of Hayward and the movement of Patterson, began to play his shots to take his side to 116. Swift, who had played a dogged side-show to Ballamy, was beaten by a spinning delivery to go caught behind for 18.

Weston quickly ran out Gunning after a suicidal second run was attempted, before the Worthing lower-order began to play their shots while Ballamy was still going at the other end. Some big striking from both Ballamy and then John Glover saw the score taken to 193 before Glover walked past one to be stumped for 28 off 19 balls. Ballamy top scored with 66.

Cuckfield’s innings started in contrasting fashion, with Jordan Silk playing with ease while the other Cuckfield batsmen initially struggled with the slow paced surface. Such was Silk’s dominance, he had scored 51 of the 59 runs on the board when Cuckfield lost their second wicket.

Driving and pulling with panache, Silk was particularly clinical throughout his innings, albeit helped by some loose bowling as Worthing used 8 bowlers in an attempt to remove him. In Bradley Gayler he found an ally, matching him stroke for stroke, including two big sixes as Cuckfield closed in on the Worthing total with rain in the air.

A rain delay, just after Gayler had scored his maiden 50 and Silk his maiden hundred for Cuckfield, left the visitors needing 23 to win upon resumption. Following an hour’s pause in the game, Worthing returned to the field with new found energy.

They quickly removed Silk (caught Young, bowled Swift for 106) and Gayler (LBW to Piper for 64). However, Chris Mole and Tom Weston quickly set about removing any doubts, as Cuckfield completed a 6 wicket win, securing the full 30 points.

Cuckfield 2nd XI v Lindfield 2nd XI

Cuckfield won the toss at home and elected to bowl first. The opening attack of Chris Taylor and Matt Denyer quickly blunted the top of the Lindfield order as they took alternating wickets to reduce the visitors to 60 for 5.

The middle order was stabilised somewhat by Michael Hewett (69) in partnerships of 34 with Rob Minter (5) and 64 with Scott Pedley (38). This helped Lindfield to a competitive 194 all out in the 49th over. Denyer (4/29) and Taylor (4/56) were the pick of the Cuckfield bowlers as Jack Denyer and James Robinson picked up a wicket a piece.

Matt Wynn (15) and Tom Morrissey (26) opened for Cuckfield but were dismissed by their opening counterparts, Steve Pearce and Scott Pedley, leaving the home team 43 for 2 and looking shakey. Jack Denyer (59*), however, batted sublimely in partnerships of 76 with Darren Senadhira (54) and 77 with Jack Waghorn (35*) to win the game.

Cuckfield 3rd XI v Ashdown Forest 1st XI

Ashdown Forest won the toss and elected to bat on the Cuckfield North ground. The scoreboard ticked along, but wickets fell regularly with only Sebastian Neaves (49) getting out of the 20s before being bowled by Will Rossiter. Chris Osborne took 3/39 and Matt Slinger 4/54 as the visitors were bowled out for 161 in 46 overs. David Vernon (4/32) and Neaves (5/32) proceeded to bowl Cuckfield out for 66 inside 21 overs. Tommy Watson top scored for Cuckfield in an innings which included five ducks.

Cuckfield 4th XI v Burgess Hill 3rd XI

Cuckfield won the toss and elected to bowl first away at Whitemans Green. Only three of the Burgess Hill batsmen reach double figures as veteran seamer Peter Collins took 7/47. Handy contributions from Charlie Punter (41), Grady Pummell (42) and Paul Elphick (22) helped the home side to 144 all out in the 45th over. Any Cuckfield jubilance at a good bowling performance was short lived, however, as they were bowled out for 59 in the 27th over as Robert Barnes took 6/14 and Daniel Rapson 3/15. James Buckeridge (23) top scored for Cuckfield.

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