Middleton’s mixed fortunes ... Pagham slip up

Pagham slipped up at Ifield / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Here are the latest reportsa from both clubs.

Sussex Premier League

Middleton just lost out in a high-scoring game away to the side in third place.

The Sea Lane men won the toss and elected to bat. Their innings got off to the worst possible start with Sean Heather being adjudged caught behind off the third ball of the innings for nought.

The score moved on to 75 with Will Burrows and Ben Hansford gone before a partnership of 83 between Rob Willway and Jofra Archer took the score to 158. Archer scored 64, including 12 fours. Middleton closed on 244 for seven, taking maximum batting points for the first time this season.

Archer was among the wickets, taking two in his third over. A good mid-innings partnership between Toby Margetts (66) and Taylor Bradley (51) set up the victory, which came for Grinstead off the last ball of the penultimate over of the innings.

Willway ended with three for 75 off 16 overs.

n On Sunday Middleton hosted two county t20 matches at their Sea Lane home.

First they played Ifield in a re-arranged quarter-final. Middleton deciding to bat on winning the toss and reached 184 for seven off their 20 overs and then restricted the Ifield reply to 140.

This set up a semi-final clash against Saturday’s league opposition East Grinstead, winners of the tournament in 2014.

Middleton again won the toss but this time elected to field first. East Grinstead scored 174 off their 20 overs with Leo Cammish top-scoring with 48.

The Middleton crowd were entertained by a top-class run chase, with skipper Heather leading the way scoring 46 in the first three overs of the innings, an innings which including six fours and three sixes.

His departure saw Hansford and Archer maintain the run rate with a further four sixes between them.

At 97 for four Will Burrows and Brandon Hanley came together in the 11th over and formed an important partnership of 53 in five overs before Burrows was bowled for 25.

It was left to Hanley and Rob Willway to win the game with Hanley hitting the winning runs off the second ball of the final innings, with Middleton five wickets down.

Middleton advance to the final which will be played against Preston Nomads at the county ground in Hove on Sunday, August 30 (3.30pm).

Ifield v Pagham

Division two

Pagham won the toss and batted – and soon realised they were in for a difficult afternoon with the ball rearing off a length because of an under-prepared wicket.

Batting was a lottery and it was a matter of time before the batsmen were received an unplayable delivery.

Only Stuart Rutter (23) and Ryan Barratt (37) managed double figures. Pagham mustered only 108 from 43 overs with Guru Kedamath taking full advantage of the conditions, finishing with five for 21.

Although Pagham used five bowlers Ifield were always well ahead of the game. A belligerent 60 not out from Kedamath saw the home side reach the required total of 109 in the 21st over.

Pagham ended their run of three drawn matches – but not in the way they had hoped. This week Pagham entertain Ansty on what will be a wicket befitting division two.

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