Tons for Tom and Peterhelp season off to a flyer

It was a good start to the league cricket season for most of the top clubs in Mid Sussex.

Sussex Premier League club Cuckfield made a winning start at Three Bridges, where bowlers held the initiative all afternoon on what had looked a good batting track.

A disciplined spell by opening bowler Nick Patterson earned him a return of 4-51 against his old club, while newcomer Keshav Maharaj was rewarded for his accurate line of left arm spin with 4-26.

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Bridges mustered only 133 despite Cuckfield’s Chris Mole being delayed by work and traffic and not arriving until seven wickets had fallen.

In reply, Cuckfield’s batting also looked vulnerable despite a second wicket stand of 49, the biggest of the match, between Chris Mole (25) and Oliver Altendorf (33). At 79-7 it looked like going the home club’s way but Tom Mole (21) and skipper James Robinson (15no) put on 30 and then Patterson came in to hit an undefeated 14 to help secure a two-wicket win.

In the Division 3 East derby at Adastra Park Ansty cruised to an eight-wicket win after bowling out Keymer & Hassocks for 111. Glen Anson (6-14) and Sam Palser (4-16) were the tormentors and it would have been even worse but for a fifth wicket stand of 66 between Simon McNiff (36) and George Christmas (41).

Opener McNiff was last man out and then Jonny Young made light of the target with a brisk, unbeaten 60.

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Lindfield newcomer Peter Barron struck an undefeated 117 to sweep his team to a nine-wicket win at Rottingdean after Stephen Pearce (6-54 in 18) had bowled out the hosts for 175.

In a match reduced to 86 overs by rain, Lindfield collected a maximum 30 points despite losing captain and main strike bowler James Pearce to a sprained ankle in only his second over.

Burgess Hill got off to a flyer as opened Tom Trowbridge hit a fine 111 and shared a century second wicket stand with Nathan Cooper, who made 51 on his debut from Hassocks.

Visitors Crawley never threatened a formidable total of 247-4 as they were bowled out for 98.