SUSSEX PREMIER LEAGUE ROUND-UP: Hastings and Nomads are joint top

Current champions Nomads’ bowlers proved too tough for Pulborough, where batting, for both sides, was never easy.

The home side were tumbled out for just 89 with only Tom Crump (30) looking anything like comfortable. Carl Simon took 4-42 and Joe Gatting, free from county duty, took 4-25.

In reply Nomads were far from coasting at 52-4 but Stuart Faith, having opened, carried his bat for 51 not out to see them home at 91- 4.

Hastings raced to 251- 9 declared against Roffey at Horntye Park as Matt Machan hit 72, John Morgan 42 not out and Andy Cornford, returning after five years from injury, 39.

For Roffey Luke Barnard took 4-81 and Simon Shivnarain 4- 78.

The visitors then crashed to 137 not out, skipper Mike Norris with just 20 was top scorer as veteran spinner Mick Glazier took 4- 22.

Horsham were put in by East Grinstead and dismissed for 178 as left arm spinner Craig Fowle took 8-30.

In reply the home side enjoyed a narrow two wicket win at 182-8, Will Adkin making 58 and Matt Suggs 57 .For Horsham Matt Henry took 3-33, Devon Endersby 3-34 and Will Beer 2-58.

Chris Atherton was the bowling hero for Brighton and Hove as the brother of former England skipper Mike Atherton, took 6- 61 to help bowl out Chichester for 183, of which Richard Logan made 46.

Earlier Brighton had set a challenging 246 with Guy Williamson hitting 61 from 39 balls and young Irishman Craig Young made 55, Logan was the pick of the visiting bowlers, he took 4-52.

Eastbourne were put in by Three bridges and made 284-8 with Angus Stewart hitting 62 and young wicketkeeper Callum Jackson 60, for Bridges Hishm-Ul-Haq took 3- 69 and evergreen Danny Alderman 3-81.

In reply Bridges reached 217-7 at stumps with 50 from Hisham and 34 from Jibran Khan.

Former England man Ed Giddins returned to Sussex League action with 2-24 and Josh Preston grabbed 2-69.

In Division Two Cuckfield, relegated last season, lead the as the only team with a 100 per cent record. Worthing and Haywards Heath share second place.

At Stirlands the home side were sent packing for just 69 by Cuckfield as Nick Patterson took 5-33 and Dan Bowman 4-26.

Tom Mole, with 40 not out, saw the visitors home at 70 without loss.

Bexhill were dismissed for 134 by Haywards Heath with Sean Johnson their top scorer, he made 34.Young Aussie spinner Matt Junk took 3-36.

Junk then hit 51 to take his side to victory at 135-5, Chris Topp claimed 3-34.

Worthing rattled up 259-4 declared at home to Glynde after being put in with Ben Challen hitting 133 and Michael Gould 81.

Glynde held on at 182-9 with 51 from Rob Mouland as Andy Lutwyche took 4- 38.

Newly promoted Goring enjoyed their first win of the season with a 28 run victory in a low scoring match at home to St.James’s.

Ben Cartwright made 41 as George Taylor took 4 for 41 in a Goring total of 124 all out.

But it was enough for victory as St.James’s tumbled to 96 all out with Matt King taking 5-32 and Rowan Bezuidenhout 4- 43.

The remaining game was drawn as Ifield made 221-6 declared at home to Lewes Priory with Sabir Zahoor (65) and Jack Groves 41 not out.

Lewes struggled to 146-7 with 55 from skipper Imran Khan and 47 not out by Michael Murray.

Skipper Russell Jacob was the pick of the home bowlers, he took 4-43.

It was generally a day of low scoring matches in Division 3 East as newcomers Crowhurst Park narrowly edged out their hosts, Ansty to take their place as the clear leaders.

Park laboured to 129 but then bowled out Ansty for 117 to leave the home side at the bottom of the table.

Uckfield Anderida also defended a low total as they bounced back from their disappointment of the first week to beat Keymer & Hassocks. Uckfield were bowled out for just 102 as Andy Westgate took 5-41 but then shot the visitors out for 51 as Scott Strangio and Mark Cullingford took five wickets apiece.

Crawley also enjoyed a much improved second week to beat Hellingly by nine wickets at Southgate Park. Harry Chaudhary had a fine all round game with 5-14 followed by an unbeaten 42 in Crawley’s reply.

Sidley used home advantage to even better effect as Seaford crashed to a ten wicket defeat.

After a steady start Seaford collapsed to 97 all out with two new Sidley recruits playing a leading role. Paul Swannell took 6-48 and the recently returned John Haffenden made 49 not out. Neil Priddy also took 4-13 for Sidley.

The odd game out was at Lindfield where the home side posted 224-4 with two of last season’s principal scorers amongst the runs: Brett Silvey 102 and Kevin Chamberlain 73 not out but Burgess Hill finished on 208-5 in reply. Ian Simpson 93 not out and Jack Simpson 65.

Billinghurst and Middleton are joint top of Division 3 West, both on 42 points.

Billingshurst made 244-8 after being asked to bat first at Steyning. Scott Stratton top scored with 60 though left-arm spinner Minh Nguyen took 8-93. They were forced to settle for a draw as Steyning finished 181-8, Chris McPherson making 64.

Middleton played a similar game after being inserted at Henfield. Sean Rebbetts top scored with 76 not out, Brandon Hanley contributing 49. Despite Jamie Thompson’s 4-39 Henfield hung on at 196-9 with Brett Moore unbeaten on 95.

Arundel defended 140-7 to beat Pagham (128) by a narrow 12 runs.

Littlehampton played their part in a high scoring game against Slinfold helping to exorcise the memories of their drubbing at Bognor the week before. Littlehampton posted 255-8 with half centuries from James Askew 70 and Chris Heberlein 50. Sajid Khan 39 and Amjad Mohsin 30 not out also made useful contributions though Harrison Webb took 3-40 for Slinfold and Charlie Haire 3-39.

Haire then went on to make 111 in Slinfold’s reply though they were eventually bowled out for 238 as Daniel Rive took 6-40 for Littlehampton.

The other game played in 3 West became the Mickey Demetriou show as Findon won by four wickets chasing Bognor Regis’ 182-9. Demetriou added a match winning 52 not out to his earlier 4-45 with the ball.