Premier League cricket: Chichester find the going rough at Roffey

Visiting skipper Richard Browning won the toss and, unsurprisingly, opted to field.

Opening bowlers Matt Geffen and Browning took two early wickets to reduce the home side to 20 for two.

A few boundaries were leaked on the postage stamp of a ground and Roffey’s professional player, Rohit Jagota, was able to settle in on a difficult surface.

Jagota was finally dismissed for 53 when James Stedman had him caught at first slip, one of his three wickets in an unchanged 19-over spell.

The hosts never really got any momentum into their innings, losing wickets at crucial times.

Ashton Turner looked extremely threatening every ball he bowled and finished with three for 59 from 20 overs.

But at 154 for nine, the Roffey last pair put on a tenth-wicket stand of 47 in eight overs to take their total to 201 for nine.

The Chichester opening batters found it challenging on an uneven drying wicket and in the fourth over, Mark Bamford was hit in the face off a length delivery which resulted in a retirement and a visit to A&E.

That bought Ashton Turner in and he made things look easier, and he set out to attack the Roffey bowlers from ball one.

Chris Kirkham, the mainstay of the Chichester line-up for much of the season so far, was dismissed by Jagota for 20, which - as it does too often - resulted in a collapse for the visitors.

At effectively 80 for six with Bamford not returning, Browning with an injured wrist entered the crease and he and Turner steadied the ship a little, taking the total to 125 in quick time.

Unfortunately Browning (25) was bowled at a crucial time and despite efforts from the lower order and Turner, finally out for a magnificent 105, Chichester were bowled out for 178.

This was another disappointing defeat for the Chichester faithful. They host Worthing on Saturday, when a win is imperative.