Cuckfield, Roffey and Horsham beaten – Middleton and Bognor win – Worthing and Haywards Heath in a thriller

East Grinstead 1st XI vs Cuckfield 1st XI – Sussex Premier

Cuckfield travelled to East Grinstead on Saturday in a top-of-the-table clash with both sides looking to cement themselves at the summit of the Sussex Premier League. Cuckfield won the toss and elected to bat on a dry pitch, as Grinstead’s opening bowlers made life difficult for the visitors.

Andy Barr in particular was impressive, bowling Cambridge (0) in his first over, before Thornhill (16) and Marshall set about rebuilding. Upon reaching 34, Marshall was undone by a seaming delivery from Barr, and was quickly followed by Thornhill and Ollie Graham (2) to leave the visitors 53-4.

46 photos by Stephen Goodger from Worthing v Haywards Heath.

Oscar Jago-Lewis played an enterprising innings, liberally using the sweep shot as Grinstead’s spinners made life difficult. He was ably supported by Aidan Drew (20) and Dan Turner (20), however regular wickets meant Cuckfield were destined for a low score. With Jago-Lewis out on 58, the visitors limped to 175 with Barr (4-38) and Tom Hinley (4-67) were the pick of the bowlers.

Grinstead were the happier of the two sides at the break and quickly set about tackling the Cuckfield score. Opener Harry Finch started proceedings with a slog-swept six off Goss (2-61), and while Cuckfield picked up three quick wickets through Goss and Josh Hayward (1-31), to leave Grinstead 47-3, the visitors were never in the game.

The experienced Finch and Will Adkin brought the hosts home - Finch finished on 111, and Adkin on 50 as East Grinstead won by 7 wickets.

Preston Nomads 257-9 (57 overs); Horsham 157 all out (46.1 overs)

Preston Nomads won by 100 runs

by Martin Read

This was a game that Horsham will wish to forget. After having fellow title chasers Preston Nomads on the ropes, the visitors fought back strongly, setting a demanding rather than killer target, but for once Horsham’s impressive batting line up fell well short to be beaten by 100 run.

Electing to bat, Nomads created a good platform, but from 54-1 Horsham kept whittling away, with 2 wickets for overseas player Ben Lister and subsequently 5 for Bertie Foreman, but after a 30 minute break for lightning, thunder and rain, the game changed dramatically, with Captain Nav Patel (75 not out) and Dan Birrell (50) taking the bull by the horns, hitting 8 sixes between them to finish their allocation on 257-9.

Responding, Horsham lost Tom Johnson without a run on the board, , but with 49 from Joe Willis and 33 from Charlie Tear the chase was well in hand – until Adam O’Brien added 3 wickets to Josh Clarkson’s earlier 2, before a pair of run outs reduced Horsham to 129-7. Then, from 145-9 Sam Martin-Jenkins and Ben Williams blocked out 11 overs, but were unable to deny Nomads victory, Williams telling the County Times: “We let things slip after the weather break, but fair play to Nomads, they stuck in and showed us that no innings is ever done until the last wicket is taken.

"On Horsham’s excellent strip 258 to win was definitely gettable, and we needed someone to bat through, but it didn’t happen. In another tough game we go to East Grinstead on Saturday, it’s a good competitive league, with a close fight at the top of the table, but while we respect the opposition we back ourselves.”

With 7 games gone, Horsham slip to fourth with 150 points on level pegging with third-placed Nomads. Cuckfield are top with 167, one ahead of East Grinstead, who crushed them last week.

Roffey 226 all out (52.3 overs); Three Bridges 229-5 (51.2 overs)

Three Bridges won by 5 wickets

by Martin Read

Roffey’s quest for an elusive first Premiership win of the season goes on. They got off to an encouraging start with the bat, only to be all out for 226, which their Three Bridges hosts overhauled for the loss of 5 wickets.

Aware of Roffey’s current woes, Bridges inserted the visitors, who reached a promising 88-1 and then 170-4, un