Bognor Regis survive on last game of the season again as 2nd XI win promotion

On Saturday, Bognor Regis Cricket Club faced off against Haywards Heath Cricket Club at home in the 18th round of the Sussex Premier League. Bognor Regis won the toss and elected to field.

At the start of their bowling innings, Bognor Regis struggled to take wickets on a slow wicket, but kept the run rate under control. As Haywards Heath tried to up their run rate, Bognor started making key breakthroughs, stunting their efforts. Most notably, Josh Sargeant took 5/45 from his 10 overs, with his final wicket coming from an outstanding catch from Ryan Maskell in the final over, as Bognor Regis kept Haywards Heath to 257/all out.

Bognor Regis started their batting innings in a commanding fashion with captain Ryan Maskell (48) and Theo Beynon-Ayres combining for a 91-run partnership. After losing their first wicket, Theo and Oliver Mason continued with the innings as they put pressure on Haywards Heath, hunting down their total. With their batting prowess on full display, Theo and Oliver combined for an unbeaten 167-run partnership as Oliver scored 76 and Theo scored 110 in a chanceless innings. Their partnership demonstrated their composure in a high-pressure game, as they executed their skills to lead Bognor Regis to a crucial victory.

This win kept Bognor Regis Cricket Club safe from relegation as they jumped to 7th on the table on the final day of the 2026 Sussex Premier League season. Bognor Regis’ top run-scorers for the season were: Oliver Mason (520), Theo Beynon-Ayers (516), Ryan Maskell (509). Bognor Regis’s top wicket takers were: Michael Reynolds (34), Josh Sargeant (30), Robert Pratt (13).

Saturday was also a big day for Bognor Regis Cricket Club’s 2nd XI, as they were promoted.

Bognor Regis 2nd XI were away to an already relegated West Wittering 1st XI, knowing a win would guarantee promotion to Division 4.

Bognor Regis won the toss and elected to bowl first on a green pitch, hoping to get off to a fast start. However, it was the West Wittering opening batters who got off to the fast start, scoring chanceless runs without losing a wicket, which left them in a strong position of 84-0 at the 20-over drinks break.

On the first ball after drinks, spinner Jamie Woolnough (4-21 off 8 overs) got the breakthrough, and his bowling, coupled with spinner Hayden McGregor (2-26 off 5 overs), kept taking regular wickets and building pressure, whilst not conceding many runs. Once Jamie Woolnough had bowled out, fast bowler Immdadullah Khail then came onto bowl and took an outstanding quadruple wicket-maiden to bowl West Wittering out for 133.

Bognor Regis were quick out of the blocks, with openers Sujeeth Daini (21) and captain Joshua Broad (22) finding the boundary regularly in the first 5 overs. The loss of both openers and Number 3 batter Scott Bingham brought Charlie Jays to join Harry Hood at the crease. Both batters started smoothly and were cruising to victory until 2 quick wickets left Bognor Regis scrambling to score the remaining runs. However, Harry Hood stood resolute and brought the team to a 5-wicket victory as Bognor Regis chased 133 in 16.3 overs. Results elsewhere meant that Bognor finished the season comfortably second on 423 points, 16 points behind league winners Southwater.

The whole Bognor Regis Cricket Club community gathered to celebrate a successful season across the board. 1st XI stayed in the Premier Division, 2nd XI were promoted, and the Women’s 1st XI were promoted.