Sussex Cricket League: Another winning weekend for in-form Sidley

The first XI opened up a 35-point lead at the top of Sussex Cricket League Division 10 East after their fifth successive triumph, a 55-run success at home to Bells Yew Green thirds.

Johnathan Haffenden again led the way for Sidley with the bat, his 70 proving crucial in them posting 151 all out after losing the toss and being inserted.

Haffenden now has 276 runs in four league innings this season, with two fifties and a hundred, and an average of 138. Chris Hunnisett was the next highest scorer with 20.

Sidley then reduced their visitors from 19-0 to 28-4 en route to bowling them out for 96, wrapping up victory a short while after rain began falling on an unseasonal June evening.

Steve Ramsden (3-17 from nine overs), Sabbir Ahmed (3-17) and Craig Ramsden (3-34) took three wickets apiece, and Haffenden picked up the other.

The matchball sponsor was Heart of Sidley.

Meanwhile, Harry Little struck his maiden century as Sidley's second team made it back-to-back emphatic wins in Division 12 East (South East).

Little made a superb unbeaten 115 with 14 fours and six sixes to help set up a 172-run away success against Herstmonceux thirds.

Tila Muhammad (34), Jackson Jesupatham (25) and Gopinath Sellappan (22 not out) also made handy contributions in a Sidley total of 242-6 after they were asked to bat.

Sidley proceeded to dismiss their hosts for 70 in 20.1 overs, having at one stage had them 21-5, to go third in the early league table.

Sellappan (4-30) and Ryan Polton (3-12 from six overs) did the bulk of the damage, and youngsters Reace Rushton and Hayden Sinfield claimed a wicket each.

The matchball sponsor was The New Inn, Sidley.

The following day, Sidley booked their place in the Sussex T20 Plate quarter-finals thanks to a 47-run home win over higher-grade Hailsham 3rds.

Sidley reached 137-8 after choosing to bat, with the bulk of the runs coming from the top three - Moinul Islam (24 off 15 balls), Haffenden (30 off 23) and Abdul Sheikh (43 off 37).

They went on to reduce Hailsham to 34-7 before an eighth-wicket partnership of 55 meant the visitors ended up on 90-9.

Ahmed (3-12), Haffenden (2-11), Steve Ramsden (2-23) and Islam (1-17) were the wicket-takers at St Mary's Recreation Ground.

The matchball sponsor was Coussens Cranes.