Invitation Cricket round up: Southwater close in on top two and Adlam stars for Partridge Green

Despite missing a number of first team players, the hosts’ top three batsman all delivered - Johann Brouwer especially with a knock of 83 - before Southwater’s bowled their visitors out for 180.

Skipper Alex Harding continued his fine form opening the bat with 52 in an 85-run opening stand with Rob Frankland, who made 39. Harding said: “Another win is pleasing, and we did it without six first team players. I knew the players we brought in were good enough and they proved it.”

Southwater did lose wickets down the order but Brouwer stuck around for his 83 off 81 balls. Harding and Paul Osbourne then took three wickets and Duncan Tidy two, as the only real resistance came from James Askew with 63 off 54 balls.

“We’re still third, but Felbridge had their week off and Portslade lost so we closed the gap. If we can win our next two games we’ll be in a really good position,” Harding added.

Horsham Trinity faced up to St Andrews in what was billed as a clash of the titans at the top of Division 2, both sides having won three out of three of their completed games this season.

Unfortunately, the match ended up a rather one-sided affair with St Andrews’ South African all-rounder, Hayden James, taking seven wickets as Trinity were skittled out for just 116.

A valiant bowling performance and some solid fielding kept St Andrews in the field for 30 overs as they chased the small target, but Trinity know that a much better batting performance is needed in the upcoming matches against fellow promotion hopefuls Broadwater and Broadbridge Heath.

There was better luck for Trinity’s Sunday Cup team the following day as they secured the narrowest of victories away at a Horsham XI in the T20 Cup.

Despite missing a number of players, Trinity set a solid total of 144-9 from their 20 overs with solid all-round performances from openers Rob Bartlett and Louie Donnelly (27 apiece), while Seconds skipper Ben Ford and Horsham Wides scored 20 each.

Horsham, fielding three first team regulars such as wicketkeeper Sam Bell and all-rounder Kamau Leverock, chased hard but ultimately fell one run short as the hapless Gavin Daisley was unable to score the three required off the last ball.

It meant victory to the local minnows with terrific bowling performances from Louie Donnelly (just 11 runs from his four overs) and skipper Matt Miles with 3-21 from his four overs.

Also in Division Two, A first league defeat of the season saw Broadbridge Heath knocked off the top of the Division Two table.

Asked to bat first away at Ram, Heath were bowled out for 115, Grant Ovington top scoring with 31.

The hosts then reached their target in 31.1 overs for the loss of six wickets. Fred Bridges took 3-44 and Asim Mohammed 2-25.

A fine unbeaten century from Chris Adlam helped Partridge Green to a successful chase at home to Southwater 2nds in Division Four.

Green won the toss and asked Southwater to bat, and the visitors made 194-9 with a top score of 74 from Bryan Streeter and an unbeaten 31 from Rob Shultz. Chris and Greg Adlam took three wickets a piece with Joe Tourle taking two.

On an excellent batting track Green chased down their total inside 37 overs, Chris Adlam scoring 92 of his 103 not out from boundaries, 20 fours and two sixes.

His 116 stand with Dan Smith (36) helped Green to victory, while Barry Dumbrill chipped in with 26.

Green captain Ant Eely said: “It was another good win, we bowled and fielded well and I was happy to keep them to 194 on a perfect batting track, I felt it was probably 30 or 40 light.

“Then Chris batted beautifully along with Dan. Another good all-round performance moves us up the table.”