SUSSEX CRICKET LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Hastings return to top, while Horsham draw with Nomads

Their two nearest rivals, Preston Nomads and Horsham played out a draw.

Fourth placed East Grinstead enjoyed a six wicket win at struggling Eastbourne and emerging Roffey won by five wickets at Chichester. Brighton and Hove won at home to Three Bridges.

Hastings owed much to teenage paceman Joynal Ahmed, playing only his second Premier game as he took 4 - 20 to send Pulborough tumbling to 84 all out, Will Howard with 33 was their top scorer.

In reply Sussex professional Matt Machan hit 53 not out to take Hastings home at 87 - 4 and earn their sixth victory in nine starts.

At Fulking Preston Nomads held out with eight wickets down against Horsham after their visitors had posted 236 all out of which opener John Burroughs made 96 and skipper Craig Gallagher 46, Sam Attfield helped things along with 31 .

For Nomads there were two wickets each for James Anyon, Carl Simon and Kashif Ibrahim and there were three run outs.

Nomads were quickly in trouble and fell to 110 - 7 before Ibrahim with 39 steered them towards a total of 196 for 8 at Stumps, Rob Wakeford made an entertaining 47 before he was stumped.

For Horsham young New Zealander Matt Henry took 5 for 62 and former Somerset leg-spinner Michael Munday 3 - 60.

East Grinstead rattled up 232 - 4 declared against Eastbourne at the Saffrons with 120 from Will Adkin and 59 not out from the League’s leading rungetter Matt Sugg, Josh Presland took 3 for 56 for the home side.

Bur Eastbourne then tumbled to 92 all out despite 43 from Brad Smith as Duncan Shoebridge took 4 - 26 and Craig Fowle 3 - 20.

Brighton and Hove made short work of beating Three Bridges after posting 168 all out of which Chris Grammer made 30 and Jordan Rollings 38.

For the visitors Adrian Chapple took 5 for 86 and Jigga Parekh 4 - 36.

But Skipper Matt Wood proved the match winner for the home side, he took 7 - 17 to reduce Bridges to 53 all out, Chris Atherton waded in with 3 for 30.

Roffey, playing next week in the last 32 of the ECB National Club competition, continued their good form with a five wicket win at Chichester after holding the home side to 203 - 8 declared of which Peter Lamb made 54 and Rochard Logan 63.

Andy McGorian took 3 - 62 but skipper Michael Norris led Roffey home to 206 - 5 as he hit 93, Logan grabbed 3 - 45.

In Division Two Worthing have established a 42 point lead at the top after a 93 run win at bottom club Stirlands.

Haywards Heath are now second with a game in hand and play at Worthing next Saturday, They won by eight wickets at home to Lewes Priory.

Cuckfield and St.James’s played out a draw while Ifield enjoyed their second win of the season, by 8 runs at Glynde to move out of the bottom two.

Bexhill and Goring drew at the Polegrove.

Dominic Clapp with 51 and Luke Vinter who made 30 led Worthing to 171 all out at struggling Stirlands for whom Danny Cox took 6 for 57 and Alex Garlick 4 - 47.

The home side then collapsed to 78 all out with the last wicket falling from the last scheduled delivery.

Danny Oliver with 26 was top scorer for the home side as Luke Vinter took 5 - 18.

At Haywards Heath visiting Lewes Priory were sent tumbling to 120 all out after being put in.

Andy Hartridge with 38 was top scorer as Aussie spinner Matt Junk took 5 - 28.

Junk was also in form with the bat, he made 44 and 16-year-old Fyn Hudson-Prentice made 34 not out to take the home side to victory at 121 - 2, their sixth win in eight starts.

Ifield moved out of the bottom two with a narrow 8 run win at Glynde.

The visitors were bowled out for 136 with Jack Groves making top score of 71 not out whiloe George Hobden took 7 - 47 for the home side.

But Glynde fell to 128 all out with Russell Jacob taking 4 - 51 and Sharfaz Ali 4 - 59, top scorer for Glynde was Stuart Mouland who made 41.

Bexhill rattled up 248 - 1 declared at home to Goring who held on at 178 - 9 in reply.

Malcolm Johnson with 111 not out and Tom Powell who made 69 not out shared an unbroken stand of 179 for the second wicket. Earlier Tim Hambridge had made 48.

In the Goring reply Dan Kearney was top scorer with 33 as Chris Topp took 5 - 49.

There was also a draw at Cuckfield where the home side put St.James’s in amnd saw them make 191 - 9 declared, tail ender John Taylor made top score of 39 as Nick Patterson bowled 26.4 overs unchanged to take 6 - 78.

In reply Cuckfield struggled to 130 - 7 of which Marc Gardner made 33, Bradley Hatchett took 3 - 38.

The leadership of Division 3 East changed hand once again as the top two teams lost and now just 17 points separate the top four sides at the halfway point of the season.

Hellingly are the new leaders after a four wicket victory at Crowhurst Park.

Gavin Sutherland took 4-45 and David Twine 4-48 as the home side’s 202 proved not to be enough despite 45 from Brad Payne.

Solomon March top scored with 68 not out, Scott Pearce adding a further 44 as Hellingly head the table for the first time. Martin Menezes claimed 3-41 for Park.

Seaford now sit in second place after winning at Burgess Hill, moving above their hosts in the process who fall to 4th.

Mark Sapwell led their innings of 191-8 with 54 after they were asked to bat, Dan Maskell responded with 5-62 for Burgess Hill. Hill fell short at 155 though Shaun Kevern made 40.

Just two points separate Hellingly and Seaford.

Previous leaders Sidley drop to third after a comprehensive defeat at fast improving Ansty.

Electing to bat Ansty posted 203-6 with James Wright hitting 86 and Jon Young 51. In reply Sidley were well adrift on 123. Ansty climb to fifth in the process.

Uckfield Anderida earned a morale boosting victory at Lindfield by six wickets. The hosts were asked to bat first and could only reach 125 with Scott Clark making 40.

Mark Cullingford took 4-43, Scott Strangio 3-27 and Luke Forster 2-19.

Forster then made 56 as Uckfield climbed off the foot of the table.

Keymer & Hassocks replace them there after losing a tight, low scoring game at home to Crawley.

The visitors got home in the game’s final over at 169 for 9 after overhauling Keymer’s 165-5 declared after they had been put in. Nathan Cooper top scored with 87.

However 76 from Harry Chaudhary and 67 from Atif Elahi got Crawley through though Nick Campion almost denied them with 3-46.

In contrast Findon made it eight wins in a row and extend their lead over second place to 77 points at the season’s halfway point.

Henfield were their latest victims as their 142 was well short of challenging the runaway leaders.

Damon Earp scored 55 for Henfield but James Iago’s 4-46 ensured that Findon had a relative small target to chase and the job was completed for the loss of just two wickets. Principal contributors for Findon were Jack Metters 55 and Bradley Bridson 49.

Bognor Regis remain second but were held to a draw at Billingshurst.

Billingshurst finished just short of Bognor’s 194-8 at 185-6. Tim Weston 73 and Billy Harris 67 taking them close.

Middleton enjoyed a comprehensive win at home to Slinfold.

Inserting the vistors, Middleton restricted Slinfold to just 104 with only Hayden McIntyre 44 having any significant time at the crease. Ben Hansford made a quick fire 74 not out as the home side won by eight wickets.

A game of two maiden league centuries took place at Steyning whose 206-4 declared was led by Hywel Jones making 113 not out.

Despite missing out on any bowling points Arundel went on to win by 5 wickets thanks mainly to 124 not out from Geoff Stothart.

Arundel remain ninth but extend their lead over bottom club Pagham who suffered another reverse at home to Littlehampton.

Pagham appeared to be on the road to victory when they bowled Littlehampton out for 163 but fell just six runs short to leave themselves with much to do in the second half of the season.