Sussex Cricket League latest

HORSHAM remain top Sussex Premier league following a seven wicket win at near neighbours Roffey - while Monty Panesar shone on his belated debut for Three Bridges.

It was two young batsmen who led Horsham home as Devon Endersby hit 81 not out and James Johnson made 52 as Horsham reached victory at 194-3 from 43 overs.

Earlier the Horsham leg spinners ruled the roost, Michael Munday taking 3-50 and Will Beer 3-55 as Roffey struggled to 190-8 declared.

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In that total Chris Webb made 45, Matt Davies 38 and Michael Norris 36.

Current title holders Preston Nomads kept up their challenge with an impressive eight wicket win at Brighton and Hove who they dismissed for just 124.

Carl Simon took his season’s total of wickets to 54 with figures of 5-42 for Nomads and, for Brighton, Matt Green with 41 was top scorer, Guy Williamson added 24.

In reply Nomads cruised to 128-2 with 52 not out from Joe Gatting and 48 not out from Stuart Faith.

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Hastings’ chase for the title stalled a little with a home draw against Eastbourne for whom the points eased their relegation worries.

It was the father and son combination of Alan Wells (94) and Dan Wells (61) that helped Eastbourne to 224-8 declared from 58 overs.

Hastings found runs hard to come by and reached 182-7 at stumps with 43 from Jason Finch, 34 from Kirk Wernars and 33 from Matt Machan.

For Eastbourne there were two wickets each for Ed Giddins and Dan Wells.

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East Grinstead are on the fringes of the title chase and they enjoyed a five wicket win in a low scoring game at bottom club Pulborough.

The home side batted first and crashed to 68 all out in 27.5 overs as Duncan Shoebridge took 5-18 in 9.5 overs.

Toby Margetts then made 38 to help Grinstead home at 72-5 from 21.2 overs, Amit Suman taking four wickets.

Chichester eased their relegation worries with a four wicket win at Three Bridges who, themselves, are now very much in the relegation shake-up.

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Monty Panesar made his debut from Bridges and made 66 of their all out total of 138 as Richard Logan took 4 -50. At one time Bridges were 131-4 but lost six wickets for seven run.

Chichester won at 141-6 from 35.2 overs with 26 from Daniel Groves as Abi Sikande and Hasim- ul-Haq each took three wickets.

Worthing are still runaway leaders of Division Two and hot favourites for promotion but their bid stuttered a little on Saturday when they were on the wrong end of a home draw with Cuckfield.

It is a real battle behind the leaders with five clubs separated by just 27 points, all have four matches left.

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Cuckfield made 249-5 declared at Worthing with 94 from Brook Hatwell and 87 from Dan Bowman.

In reply the division leaders reached 136-8 with Brad James making top score of 38 as Josh Hayward took 6-23 from 17 overs.

Bexhill continue their battle for promotion following a comfortable nine wicket win at home to relegation threatened Ifield.

Ifield tumbled to 90 all out as Sean Johnson took 3-9 and elder brother Malcolm Johnson 3-29.

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In reply Malcolm Johnson made 40 not out and Tom Powell 30 not out to take Bexhill to victory at 93-1 from just 17.4 overs.

Haywards Heath won by three wickets with just an over remaining at Stirlands.

The home side declared at 222-5 after being put in with 111 not out from Will Gubbins and 41 from Ian Gooding, for Haywards Heath 16 year-old Fyn Hudson- Prentice took 3-51.

It was a third wicket stand of 150 that formed the base of a winning total of 225-7 by Haywards Heath as Aussie Matt Junk hit 105 and 16 year-old Ollie Graham made 61, the pair sharing a stand of 150, for Stirlands Alex Garlick took 5-84.

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Goring are also in the promotion race and they enhanced their chances of a second successive move up the pyramid with a three wicket win at home to Glynde.

The visitors were dismissed for 192 as Matt Keen grabbed 6-52.

Ellis Woolley then made 67 not out to take Goring home at 194-7.

Leaders Sidley took their free week along with Keymer & Hassocks giving the teams beneath them at both ends of Division 3 East a chance to make ground.

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Second placed Lindfield failed to make any ground after a disastrous afternoon brought them no points against Crowhurst Park.

Electing to bat first they capitulated to 116 all out largely due to 7-30 from Park captain Vic Walcott. 70 not out from Martin Barry gave the visitors a 9 wicket victory.

Third placed Hellingly hosted fourth placed Seaford at Horsebridge and emerged victorious batting first by 67 runs.

Dan Johnson 27 and Tim Van Noort 26 were their main scorers in a total of 173 as John Smith claimed 5-48. Mark Sapwell made 30 for Seaford but they were 106 all out as Bob Pye took 5-23 and David Twine 3-25.

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Burgess Hill dropped down three places to eighth the previous week when they were not in action but rose one place after completing a double away to Uckfield Anderida.

Jack Simpson hit 43 for Hill though Ryan Mitchell countered with 4-26. Though Luke Forster struck 44 to lead Uckfield’s reply Ian Simpson took 4-44 as they were all out for 123.

Ansty’s improved form continued as bottom placed Crawley were beaten by 56 runs. Tom Jenkins 84, James Wright 63 led the way as Ansty declared after just 44 overs on 200-3. Jenkins then completed a fine personal performance taking 3-24. Jon Young also bagged 3-46 to leave Crawley some way adrift at the foot of the table with just four games to play despite Rohit Shah’s 57.

Findon remain firmly in the driving seat at the top of Division 3 West after coming through a low scoring encounter with Pagham. Wayne Green took 4-45 in 24 overs as Findon could only muster 129 however this proved to be plenty as Pagham were shot out for 70. James Iago took 5-22 in 18 overs including six consecutive maidens.

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Bognor Regis and Billingshurst are still maintaining a challenge however with both recording 2 wicket victories away from home.

Bognor were indebted to Graham Bush 6-37 and later Michael Spaseski’s 72 for overhauling Slinfold’s 173-7. Ethan Ansell top scored with 68 not out for Slinfold and Guy Thorne took 5-69.

Middleton eventually got over the line at Steyning as Ben Hansford 126 and Stuart Nelms 67 saw them overtake the home side’s 241-4. In a game dominated by the batsmen Lee Mottershead was 99 not out and Gary Hunt made 76.

Billingshurst however took over third spot after a comfortable 7 wicket win at Arundel where the home side were bowled out for 92 and are now just 15 points ahead of bottom placed Pagham.