Thorne warns of tougher tests to come as Slinfold go clear at the top

A maximum 30-point victory from a comfortable eight-wicket triumph away at Stirlands saw Slinfold take full control at the summit with their fourth straight win.

They skittled their hosts for just 69 in 26.4 overs after winning the toss and then knocked off their total in 16 overs for the loss of just two wickets.

Thorne said: “I am delighted to have gone outright top of the league with a comprehensive victory. It was a very comprehensive victory but we will have tougher tests to come, so we can’t be complacent and need to continue to work hard, keep playing a unit and hopefully the results will keep coming.”

Akeem Jordan trapped William Gubbins with the first ball of the day as Slinfold got off to a flying start.

Thorne said: “From that point on we didn’t take our foot of the gas and continued to apply pressure with the ball, and backed it up fantastically in the field – we didn’t want to let them get into the game.”

Tom Filby led the attack and went through the top order with three somewhat identical deliveries, yorking batsmen two, three and four as he returned 3-14 in his eight overs.

George Coles (15) and Adam Norris (19) were the only batsmen to make double figures as Jordan recorded 3-24 and Harrison Webb and Paul Osborne 2-19 and 2-9 respectively.

Slinfold’s Craig Skilton hit seven in reply, and although Jordan fell for a duck, Sean Beegan (27*) and Osborne (34*) eased them home with 70-2.

Thorne added: “I was delighted for Tom as he’s had a great start this year with the ball and hasn’t got the wickets he’s probably deserved.

“We did lose a couple of wickets, but it was good to see Sean Beegan there at the end with a 27 not out, and Ossie finished things off in style for us with an entertaining 34 from just 15 balls.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!