Finch ton as Priory net first win

Teenage Sussex professional Harry Finch scored a century with the bat and John Morgan took five wickets with the ball as Priory prevailed by 42 runs away to second-placed Cuckfield.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, Finch and fellow youngster Jake Woolley (40) got Priory off to an excellent start with an opening partnership of 114. Leo Cammish added a useful 23 at number three and Finch went on to make a brilliant 116 containing 13 boundaries as Priory closed on 208-4.

Kyle Adcock and Morgan then made early breakthroughs in the field to leave Cuckfield 10-2. Elliot Hooper struck to make it 38-3 before Cuckfield rallied with a fourth wicket partnership of 96 between Jason Oates (58) and Keshav Maharaj (55).

Morgan made the breakthrough, however, by trapping Oates in front and the innings then went into a dramatic decline with the last seven wickets going down for just 32 runs. Morgan finished with 5-37, and there were two wickets each for slow bowlers Hooper and Mick Glazier.

See Friday’s Hastings Observer for a full report and reaction.

Standings (played four matches unless stated): 1 Preston Nomads 83pts, 2 Cuckfield (5) 80, 3 East Grinstead 80, 4 Horsham 78, 5 Chichester Priory Park (5) 68, 6 Worthing 62, 7 HASTINGS PRIORY 60, 8 Brighton & Hove 57, 9 Three Bridges 53, 10 Roffey 46.