Wickers struck 233-9, with captain Chris Summers crashing 133, before they dismissed Chippingdale for only 59.

Wickers vice-captain Paul Grennan, who took four wickets for the third game in a row, said: "Chris just tore them apart and it was a chanceless innings until he was dropped on the long-on boundary on 125.

"We've now won four of our six games, are up to second, and have won three in a row. We've bowled five teams out, and all our disciplines – bowling, fielding and batting – are going well.

"Realistically, promotion should now be our aim this season. We're playing good cricket and have given ourselves a good chance."

Chipps stuck Wickers into bat on Saturday and restricted Southwick to 15-1 by the end of the 10th over.

But Summers then came to the crease and smashed 133 from only 90 balls, with 17 fours and five sixes. His half-century came in just 37 balls, and his hundred in 72 deliveries.

Russell Martin, who scored 23, put on 97 for the third wicket with Summers and Craig Dawson then added 49 for the fifth wicket.

Wickers lost several late wickets, though, and slipped from 214-5 to 233-9 when they declared after 45.1 overs. Spinner Tim Hall was the pick of the Chippingdale bowlers with 5-35.

Chipps reply never really got started and Paul Grennan moved on to 22 wickets for the season with 4-21 and Warwick McClymont took three wickets from 11 deliveries without conceding a run – and will be on a hat-trick in the next match after taking two wickets in as many balls to wrap up the innings.

Jerry White, with just 16, was Chipps' top scorer.

Wickers chairman Adam Walter was a late withdrawal from the game after his wife gave birth to their first child.

Southwick travel to Scaynes Hill on Saturday.

Wickers' 2nd XI drew at Chippingdale in Division 1 on Saturday. Paul Baker top-scored with 67 not out in Chipps' 197-7 before Hanan Burki struck 51 as Southwick finished on 187-7.

Portslade suffered their first defeat of the season in Division 1 when they went down to a four-wicket defeat at bottom-of-the-table Ram, who had lost their previous five matches.

Ram stuck Portslade into bat and they were bowled out for 174 after 40.1 overs. Tom Van Der Neut hit 11 fours in his 50, while Martin Aylward struck 39, with four fours and two sixes.

Portslade lost their last six wickets for just 41 runs and their last three wickets without a run being scored.

Ram reached their target in the 50th over of their innings despite Portslade captain Alex Smith taking 5-50 from 18.5 overs.

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