It's not quite Sunnyside up for Eastergate

Eastergate, Aldwick and West Wittering were among local teams in action in the latest round of West Sussex Invitation League matches.
Action from Aldwick's win over Broadbridge Heath / Picture by Kate ShemiltAction from Aldwick's win over Broadbridge Heath / Picture by Kate Shemilt
Action from Aldwick's win over Broadbridge Heath / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Here are the reports - get involved in the coverage by sending your reports to [email protected] - get them in by 5pm to guarantee publication in the paper.

Felbridge and Sunnyside v Eastergate

Invitationn League division one

Eastergate had to settle for their third straight draw when they made the long trip to the Surrey border to play Felbridge. Felbridge won the toss and decided to bat but Eastergate soon realised conditions were good to bowl in with Tom Stannard and Pete Smith getting lots of movement.

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Smith got the breakthrough before a second-wicket partnership of 87 took Felbridge to 122-2.

Jamie Murphy and Jack Bateman bowled long spells and both finished with four wickets as Felbridge posted 205-9 off 49 overs.

With conditions starting to favour batting, Eastergate were confident of a successful run chase.

Despite the early loss of opener Josh Cole, Eastergate progressed nicely to 70-1 until Ashley Rule was run out.

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Skipper Jack Stannard was out for 46 and what was a positive start turned into a middle-order collapse.

With the winning target too far away Bertie Hubern batted sensibly to finish 18 not out and take Eastergate to 133-7.

Eastergate have drawn three from three. They are bottom of the table but have games in hand. Positives are their bowling and fielding with some work to do in the middle overs with the bat.

Eastergate host table-topping Broadwater on Saturday.

Aldwick v Broadbridge Heath

Invitation League division two

For the 15th time in a row, Aldwick skipper Ollie Smith lost the toss – but at the fifth time of asking this season, his side were rewarded with a victory which will give a much-needed kick-start to their campaign.

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Batting first, Aldwick got off to a steady start with Alex Cooper (28) having reliable support from Chris Redman (14).

Scott Bingham contributed a valuable 39 and top scorer Josh Sargeant (41*) and Ian Guppy ( 21) took the home side’s score from a wobbly 133-6 to a more secure 145-7.

Second change bowlers for Heath Fred Bridges (4-47) and Jeff Dawe (4-76) restricted the home side to a marginally below-par final total of 174-9.

Aldwick’s opening bowling pair Adam Robinson (2-36) and Ollie Smith (4-31) could sense victory was on the cards as they skittled out Heath’s opening pair, Josh Booker (1) and Carl Brewster (0) with just five on the board.

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A late rally from Grant Ovington (24) and Sam MacDonald (35) made the home side only slightly nervous but wickets for Dan Robinson (2-24) and John Young (1-28) together with two storming catches from Adam Robinson wrapped up proceedings and gave Aldwick the victory they richly deserved by 33 runs in the 41st over.

Clymping v West Wittering

Division three

On a sunny day, West Wittering won the toss and elected to field first.

Matt Jewiss (2-27) took the early wicket of the Clymping opener before Clymping consolidated, with both batsman playing some lovely shots.

Jewiss and Joe Pink (2-45) finally got rewards for their hard work as both batsman fell in quick succession.

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Wickets then fell at regular intervals and Clymping had Nathan Smart (36) to thank for getting them to a modest total of 115 before Priest got his man.

Wickets were shared between Jewiss, Pink, Carl Tupper (1-6), Andy Priest (2-10) and Richard Hammond (2-22).

Mark Taylor and Liam Bates (10) started the Wittering innings positively, squeezing singles out of the Clymping fielders on a regular basis, before Bates fell.

Taylor played well for his 28 and Brandon Trimmer (17), Johnny Miller (17) contributed but it was Luke Short (30*) and Priest (9*) who ensured Wittering would be leaving Clymping with 30 points.

West Wittering 2nd v Rustington 2nd

Division seven

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Wittering elected to bowl first, hoping to dismiss Rustington for under 150. On a pitch suited for batting, Joe Sissons removed both openers in his first spell and was ably backed up by Jack Harte with some very tight bowling.

A magnificent spell from Kevin Allsobrook was rewarded with another wicket as he conceded just seven runs from eight overs.

Wittering slightly lost a grip as Rustington started to put pressure on the bowlers, increasing the run rate. But tight bowling from Trevor Delderfield restricted the visitors to 185 for five off 40 overs.

Wittering’s reply got off to the worst possible start as Ben Doyle was removed for a duck. Charlie Caddy’s aggressive start put Rustington on the back foot.

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Caddy and Steve Feazey built a great partnership with some fantastic strokeplay and at drinks at 20 overs, only 30 runs were needed with nine wickets in hand.

With Caddy closer to his ton, Feazey allowed him to press on. Feazey finished with 79 not out and 16-year-old Caddy managed to reach a well-deserved maiden century helping Wittering to victory by nine wickets with 17 overs to spare.

Wisborough Green 2nd v Aldwick 2nd

Division six

Aldwick’s Grant Wilson starred with both bat (top scorer on 50) and ball (top wicket taker, 3-16) but his efforts could not thwart table-toppers Wisborough Green as his side fell 65 short of victory.

The strong Green batting line-up hit the ball around the ground with opener Chris Francis (90) looking solid until he was finally bowled by skipper Harry Rosser (2-55).

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The Aldwick bowlers never let the home side get out of sight and a final total of 203-7 would have been less than Green would have wanted or envisaged at the halfway stage. Tom Hoare bagged 2-35.

Aldwick’s miserable start to their innings cost them dearly as the top four – Paul Gibbs 5), Tom Hoare (0), Dean Stokes (7), Herman Paul (2) – managed only 14 runs between them.

Aldwick’s ray of light came when Lara Johnson (30) joined Grant Wilson and they batted sensibly for 61 runs together. Joel Colbran’s match-winning 5-34 was the main reason the visitors were bowled out for 138 in the 32nd over.

Bognor 3rd v Middleton Academy

Division 10 west

At Slindon, Bognor’s third team won the toss and invited Middleton to bat with the hosts looking to maintain their unbeaten record.

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Middleton began well with Ben Peach making a decent 30 before being bowled by young all-rounder Taylor Jaycocks.

Jaycocks grabbed a further two wickets, including a great snaffling catch low down by Andy Lee to finish with three for 37.

However Middleton fought back with Matt Warren making a fine 86 not out and Matt Robson with 42 as the visitors ended on 228 for 9. For Bognor, Andy Lee rolled back the years with two for 21.

In reply it was not Bognor’s day as Ethan Bell (2-9), Cam King (3-7) and Charlie Maginnis (3-1) bowled brilliantly to bowl out Bognor for 32 and see Middleton win by 196 runs.

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Dan Winslow made a fighting 20 for Bognor in a losing cause.

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