Selsey slump ... Aldwick batter Barns ... Wittering wilt

Selsey slumped to a disappointing defeat against East Preston on a blustery afternoon.

Home skipper Dave Benham won the toss and decided to bat first, confident in his batsmen who amassed 280 against West Chiltington the week before. But they lost wickets regularly.

Opener Jacob Miles went early to the spin of Dan Williams (1-45). Nick Nolan cut well and made an eye-catching 20 but he chopped on to seamer Mark Coskin (1-32).

Tim Fewster (30) and Matt Leclere (45) looked comfortable but Fewster was out lbw just before drinks to left-arm spinner Joe Beddoe (4-35).

A flurry of wickets fell as the middle order collapsed, though they were unhappy with some of the umpiring decisions.

The tail wagged as Tom Cripps (17) and James Chaloner (18*) took Selsey’s score to 166. Jack Sunderland ended with three for 46.

East Preston’s opening stand between Tim Miles (51) and Gary Weedon (66) showed the importance of building a partnership. It might have been different if Weedon’s top-edged pull in the first over had gone to a fielder.

Selsey stuck to their task well in the field even though the early wicket did not materialise. Cripps (0-40) bowled a 15-over spell with control for no reward and Tom Amis (0-28) did likewise.

Selsey hopes were renewed when Pete Horner (5-73) forced Miles to nick off to keeper Fewster and then took two in two balls to give Selsey a glimmer.

But Dan Williams (14*) and Tom Reeves (16*) knocked off the remaining runs needed for victory. Horner took all five of the East Preston wickets to fall.

The previous week, Selsey came away from West Chiltington with a winning draw.

In Selsey’s 280 for six. Nolan made 69, Fewster 68 and Leclere hit 40. Chilts were 178 for nine at the close.

Barns Green v Aldwick

Invitation League division three

Aldwick’s youngest player Adam Robinson was his team’s star bowler (3-37) and their batting saviour.

Batting at No11, Robinson was Aldwick’s second top scorer making an unbeaten 26 and featuring in an unbroken tenth-wicket partnership with Liam Hicks (14*) which defied all the Barns Green bowlers could throw at them and earned their side a draw and valuable league points.

Batting first, Green saw off the efforts of opening bowler Keelan Belcher (1-39), first change Ollie Smith (1-39) and the aforementioned Robinson to declare on 212 for seven after 48.5 overs.

Jay Dumbrill (91) was the centrepiece of the home side’s innings and fell just nine runs short of a century with good support from Adam Rice ( 47).

Aldwick’s determination in the field never let the home side get away and set an impossible target.

Aldwick skipper Joel Lodge (54) showed his troops the way with a typical half-century of quality strokes. However, when three of your top five are out for ducks, 213 for victory becomes almost impossible.

A recovery of sorts from the middle order (Ollie Smith 17 and Keelan Belcher 14) was not enough and it was left to young pair Hicks and Robinson to save the game.

The home side’s bowling trio of Stephen Courquin, Matt Bassett and Danny Conway bagged three wickets apiece with superb support from their outfielders with seven catches taken. Aldwick are now second in the table.

Ifield 3rd XI v West Wittering

Division five

On the back of their first loss of the season, Wittering had high hopes for a return to form travelling over the Surrey border to play Ifield.

Winning the toss, it was no surprise Wittering decided to bowl. Alex Salmon and Tim Osborne opened the bowling and proved too good for the openers, who could not get bat on ball.

Kevin Allsobrook bowled fantastic areas and Joe Pink made the breakthrough in his first over, the score 36 for one off 18 overs.

Pink and Allsobrook continued to plug away, bringing three further wickets, one athletically caught by Mark Taylor.

At 77 for four off 33 overs, Ifield were struggling but they continued to score slowly, which frustrated Wittering, as did the light bails in the wind.

Salmon (2-15) and Osborne bowled the final few overs, claiming some extra points. Ifield finished on 144 for eight off 49 overs.

Wittering struggled to find form with the bat, Mitch Hackshaw the highest scorer with 22.

A collapse ensued and from 100 for five from 34 overs and in a reasonably-comfortable postition, Wittering ended all out for 106.

They are still top of division five despite two losses - they hope to push on this at home to Horsham Trinity.

Meanwhile, West Wittering seconds recorded another victory, this time against Felbridge & Sunnyside IV. Ben Cook scored 91 and Marc Slowey 55 - his maiden club 50. They currently sit second in division ten.

Aldwick II v Storrington II

Division seven

Another good bowling performance from Aldwick seconds ensured they were set just 156 for victory - and although there were a few hiccups along the way, they achieved victory in the penultimate over with three wickets remaining.

Aldwick skipper Grant Wilson (2-37) continued his good form with the ball and soon had opener Simon Haggart back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers.

With good support from Declan Belcher (2-31), the home bowlers were always in control despite Colin Harrison’s well-made 48. A late spell from Tom Hoare (2-10) kept the lid on things and Aldwick knew that 155 for nine was never going to be enough.

Confident knocks from openers Jordan Bist (28) and Ryan Hicks (36) set up victory with a 53-run first wicket partnership.

Dan Cooper made an essential 40 as most of his team-mates fell to a late rally from Storrington bowler Nick Watt (4-38). Will Pegg (17) was not out at the end to help guide his team to the expected victory and push his team up to third place.