Sussex League Cricket round-up

Last year’s champions Hastings are their nearest rivals after an impressive win against neighbours Bexhill, but Preston Nomads tumbled to a surprise narrow home defeat by Roffey on Saturday.

Horsham decided to field first at Worthing where they dismissed the home side for 178 of which Darryl Rebbetts made top score of 39 as leg-spinner Michael Munday took 5 for 41.

Sussex Academy player Devon Endersby then led the Horsham victory bid as he made 63 in a winning total of 181 for 5, Gary Tester taking 3 for 33.

The dismal start to the season for Eastbourne continued as they were beaten by six wickets at home to East Grinstead who enjoyed their second low scoring game in successive weeks.

Eastbourne were dismissed for just 71 after winning the toss as Lewis Hatchett took 4 for 21 and Ben Davies 3 for 2.

Grinstead cruised home at 72 for 4 as Will Adkin made 20 to lead the side home.

Last year’s champions Hastings Priory enjoyed an impressive 10-wicket win at home to newly-promoted Bexhill at Horntye Park.

Bexhill were sent tumbling to 89 all out as Sussex youngster Kirk Wernars, captaining the home team, grabbed 5 for 15 in 14 overs.

In reply, Hastings earned their victory at 90 without loss from 24.5 overs as Dale Payne hit 50 not out and Toby Finzel 38 not out.

Roffey won by a 10-run margin at Preston Nomads after being held to 184 for 5 declared as Chris Plaister made 78 and skipper Michael Norris 50, there were two wickets each for Carl Simon and Ian Simpson.

Nomads were then dismissed for 174 in 50.3 overs despite a top score of 54 from Matt Hobden.

For Roffey, Abdul Khan took 4 for 38 and Luke Barnard 4 for 49, but there was disappointment for the winners, they were deducted three points by the umpires for a slow over-rate.

Brighton and Hove tumbled to their second defeat in successive weeks in going down by five wickets at Chichester.

The visitors won the toss and batted, but were dismissed for 158 of which South African Michael Rippon made 55 as Richard Browning took 3 for 21.

The home side reached their victory target at 159 for 5 as skipper Mark Bamford made 73 not out and Aussie Adam Zampa 35, for Brighton Matt Wood took 3 for 46.

Five clubs are disputing the lead in Division Two with each having won one game to date among a proliferation of abandoned matches.

Ifield lead the way by a single point despite being held to a draw against Cuckfiekld on Saturday.

Put in, Ifield were restricted to 180 for 8 declared with Simon Hickey making a top score of 39.

In reply Cuckfield finished four runs short of victory with seven wickets down but owed much to an outstanding innings of 106 not out from Sarel Erwee.

Pulborough skipper Rohit Jagota carried all before him as he carried his bat for 202 not out as his side declared at 284 for 2 at home to newly promoted Sidley. Fellow opener Sachin Chaudhrey made 40.

The visitors were them dismissed for 129 at Koldeep Rawat grabbed 6 for 72 and Adam Wardell 3 for 11, for Sidley Jon Haffenden made top score of 32.

Haywards Heath owed a home victory against Findon to a century stand for the sixth wicket after tumbling to 42 for 5.

Findon were dismissed for 141 as 18 year-old Aussie Declan Hoare took 4 for 48 and Dan Strange 4 for 40, Jack Metters with 71 was top scorer for Findon.

It was Hoare with 57 not out who took Haywards Heath to victory as he shared the winning stand with Riswan Vahora who made 40 not out.James Iago with 4 for 29 was the pick of the Findon bowlers.

Three Bridges enjoyed a comfortable 143 run victory at Goring after declaring at 210 for 7 of which 16-year-old Conor Golding made 52 as Matt Kean took 4 for 56.

Goring them tumbled to 67 all out as Danny Alderman took 3 for 8.

St.James’s held on for a draw at Goring after the home side had declared at 213 for 8. In that total Dominic Shepheard made 91 not out and Rob Mouland 54.

George Taylor took 3 for 43 and Michael Murray 3 for 34 for the visitors.

At Stumps St.James’s had reached 185 for 6 with Mike Edmonds hitting 76 as Dale Tranter took 4 for 51.

Arundel remain at the top of Division 3 West after an emphatic 92-run at home to bottom-of-the-table Pagham.

Arundel’s second win of the campaign was based around an impressive 233-8 of which captain Ally James made 87 and Geoff Stothert 64. The pair added 126 for the third wicket. Mike Hales took 5-95 for the visitors who subsided to 141 after Hales and Dave Fuente shared a 93 run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Bognor are three points behind in second place after their 124 proved 34 too many for Steyning despite 5-15 from Rana Singhe.

Middleton are third after Littlehampton suffered a one-wicket reverse at home for the second week in succession. Amit Midha hit 54 for the hosts but Will Searle’s 5-45 meant they defended a similar total to that posted against Wisborough Green the week before.

Their 188-9 was once again not quite enough as Brandon Hanley’s 67 not out saw Middleton home. Dan Rive took 3-41 for Littlehampton.

Billingshurst and Stirlands share fifth place after both won batting second against Slinfold and Wisborough Green respectively.

Slinfold’s Guy Thorne enjoyed a fine all round game yet finished on the losing side hitting 75 of Slinfold’s 183-8 then taking 4-77 as Billingshurst sneaked home by two wickets. Kelly Russell took 4-29 for Billingshurst before Carleon Broome completed the job with 61 not out. Harrison Webb also took four wickets (for 49) for Slinfold.

Wisborough Green elected to bat against Stirlands yet may have regretted doing so as their 138-7 was not enough despite 50 from Jim Sadler. Stirlands enjoying a comfortable five-wicket victory.