SUSSEX CRICKET LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Nomads look favourites to lift title

Preston Nomads are looking hot favourites to retain their Sussex League title after a crushing ten wicket win at Chichester.
Jigga Parekh took 5-66 as Three Bridges beat HorshamJigga Parekh took 5-66 as Three Bridges beat Horsham
Jigga Parekh took 5-66 as Three Bridges beat Horsham

Nomads lead by 69 points ahead of nearest rivals Hastings and Horsham. Worthing are bottom after losing at home to Hastings but Roffey, Chichester and Brighton and Hove are all in trouble in the relegation zone following defeats on Saturday.

It took Preston Nomads just 27.5 overs to bowl out Chichester for only 63 at Priory Park with only token resistance from top scorer Chris Kirkham who made 29. For Nomads Carl Simon grabbed 6 for 38 and Kashif Ibrahim 4 for 2. Joe Gatting then hit 47 as Nomads cruised to full points at 69 without loss.

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Worthing tumbled to 166 all out at home to Hastings with Ian Gooding making 33 as top scorer while, for Hastings, John Morgan took 4 for 68. Hastings won by three wickets at 170 for 7 with Leo Camish making top score of 37, for Worthing off-spinner Benn Challen took 3 for 60.

Cuckfield looked vulnerable after making 217 for 8 against Brighton and Hove but then took the win points when they bowled out their visitors for 198 to win by 19 runs! James Thorpe hit 56 and Chris Mole 48 in the Cuckfield total as Chris Grammer took 3 for 60. Grammer also made top score for his side with 72 as Kesh Maharaj with 5 for 80 and James Robinson with 5 for 62 proved the match winners with the ball.

Three Bridges owed much to a sixth wicket stand of 113 between Victor Davies (95) and Dominic Keats (44) for their total of 243 for 7 declared at home to Horsham for whom Stuart Whittingham took 3 for 46 and Michael Munday 3 for 80. Horsham were dismissed for 195 with their cause hardly helped by a series of rash shots that allowed Jigga Parekh to take 5 for 66. In the Horsham score Ben Shoare made 59 and John Burroughs 51 but Bridges won with ten overs to spare to enjoy their second League win of the season against their near neighbours.

East Grinstead pulled well clear of the relegation zone with a 64 run win at Roffey.

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Grinstead made 241 for 9 declared with 65 from Will Adkin and 59 from Tim Davey as Rohit Jagota took 5 for 96 and Matt Davies 4 for 72. Jagota then made top score of 90 for Roffey who were dismissed for 177 as Bradley Hatchett took 4 for 69.

DIVISION TWO

Eastbourne, who were held to a draw by Ifield, still head Division Two but Goring enjoyed another victory, with some comfort, at home to St.James to move twenty points ahead of third placed Bexhill. The bottom two, Glynde and Pulborough have almost been cast adrift at the bottom.

Goring stepped up their bid for promotion with a comfortable 8 wicket win at home to St.James’s who they dismissed for just 111 with Dan Gear taking 3 for 22 and Shane De Beer 3 for 14. Barnaby Lyons then made 68 to help Goring home at 116 for 2.

Bexhill suffered a setback when held at home to a draw by Findon after setting a stiff target of 239 for 4 with Jon Haffenden hitting 104 not out, Shawn Johnson made 45 not out and skipper Malcolm Johnson 42. In reply Findon reached 191 for 7 at stumps with 50 from Glen Bridson, for the hosts Callum Guest took 3 for 61.

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Eastbourne were again among the runs at home to Ifield but the visitors hung on for a draw at 203 for 9. Earlier Toby Finzel made 54, Dev Patel 52 and Mark Tomsett 42 to take Eastbourne to 250 for 8 declared, Russell Jacob took 5 for 60. In the Ifield total Jack Groves made 46 and Tom Rand 34 with Joe Barnett taking 4 for 42.

There was another draw at Crowhurst Park where Glynde finished at 184 for 8 in reply to 224 for 9 declared by the home side. For Crowhurst Park Ed Smithson made 73 and Clive Tong 48 as Mark Beddis took 4 for 82. Skipper Dom Shepheard hit 49 and Alex Thornhill 43 in the Glynde total; they have yet to win this season.

Middleton pulled 60 points clear of the bottom two with a seven wicket home win against Pulborough who they bowled out for 129 as Glenn Houchen took 5 for 21. In reply Ben Hansfrd hit 52 and Ed Towner 32 not out to take Middleton to 130 for 3 and their third League win of the season.

Division 3 Round Up

EAST

Ansty have taken over at the top of Division 3 East. There are just 11 points between them and Haywards Heath in third place. Both Heath and long time leaders Lindfield however have played a game fewer.

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Ansty won at Crawley to move to the summit. They posted 241-5 after opting to bat built around 61 not out from Leo Anderson and 60 from Tony Woodall. Crawley were well short at 147 as Anderson added 3-25 to his earlier half century.

Lindfield also elected to bat and declared on 200-4 with Nathan Bell 81 hitting not out and, Shane Wilson-Yelverton adding 65. Jack Simpson replied with 72 for Burgess Hill who finished on 182-7.

Haywards Heath won by 6 wickets at home to Keymer & Hassocks to give them a sixth straight league victory. Keymer were bundled out for just 117 s Josh Menzies, Jonny Phelps and Callum Smith took 3 wickets apiece. Sam Reading’s 53 not out in just 41 balls ensured victory within 22 overs.

After a slow start to life in the County League Rottingdean are beginning to climb the table. They are now 5th after winning at home to Hellingly. Hellingly made 205 all out as Isaac Leckie made 70 while George Ledden toiled hard and took 8-71. Mushtaq Islam then smashed 123 not out to take Rottingdean to a 6 wicket success.

WEST

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Billingshurst and Stirlands continue to be well ahead of the rest in Division 3 West with 30 points still separating the top two after both won batting first.

Billingshurst predictably extended bottom team Arundel’s winless run with a 122 run win. They made 253 with Dhanushka Mitipolaarachi (66), Scott Stratton (50) and Toby Loxley (50) amongst the runs., Sean Twine took 4-31 for Arundel, Neil Chitty 4-51. In reply Arundel were never in the hunt being bowled out for 131. Ben Williams taking 4-30.

Stirlands made 246-6 batting first at home to Bognor once again based around big scores from Sean Heather (78) and Will Gubbins (55). Depite 72 from Luke Seward Bognor were dismissed for 183 thanks to 4-80 from Struan Cameron and 3-40 from Anthony Elder.

Steyning won at Pagham by 82 runs. They made 250-9 after being put in before Pagham were bowled out for 168.

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Both Henfield and Wisborough Green put further daylight between themselves and the foot of the table. Crawley Eagles were 119-0 at Henfield after winning the toss but when openers Amaar Khan (52) and Tuffail Dar (50) were dismissed they subsided to 165 all out. Brighton Mugochi taking 6-48 and Ben Helps 3-16 for Henfield. Mugochi went on to top score with 40 not out as Henfield won by 4 wickets.

An unbeaten 92 from Alex Edwards ensured a 3 wicket win for Wisborough Green against Slinfold. Slinfold’s 173 was based around 62 from Guy Thorne but they were undone by 5-38 from Ben Thatcher.

Tony Millard/Nick Clarke