Aldwick and West Wittering get into winning habits

Aldwick v Southwater II

Division four

Southwater’s line-up was bolstered with the addition of some key first-team players as their game was cancelled.

Top run-maker Johann Brouwer was brought in to strengthen the batting line up but he and his team-mates were no match for the bowling of skipper Keelan Belcher (5-24), a major contributor to the home side’s victory by 94 runs.

Batting first, Joel Lodge (24) and Adam Rutter (68) got Aldwick off to a solid start with a 66-run first-wicket partnership.

J Rogan (3-49) made inroads with a good bowling spell, but consistent batting from Phil Hart (59*), Ryan Purvis (32) and Grant Wilson (18) took the home side to 228 for five after 49 overs. With the ball, Brouwer took two for 28 from ten overs.

Although Belcher’s was the bowling spell of the day, it was John Young (3-28) who helped set up the victory by claiming both Southwater openers without scoring.

There were five ducks in total as the aforementioned Belcher and Young, with Joel Lodge (2-16), ripped through the Southwater batsmen with ease.

Aldwick were relieved to get Brouwer out for just five, and without A Youngs (57) and M Tiller (44) the visitors’ defeat would have been a lot heavier.

West Wittering v Brighton Electricity

Division seven

It was a promising start for West Wittering with skipper Carl Tupper winning his first toss since the start of last season.

On a damp pitch, Brighton Electricity were put in and soon Spike Western struck with the new ball, clean bowling Plumstead for two.

Tim Osborne continued last week’s form, taking another early wicket, expertly caught by Steve Day at second slip.

Smith was next to go, caught off a sharp delivery from Western by Rob Gray. Wickets fell regularly, with Tupper (1-21) and Ben Cook (2-2) successful.

Day proved his consistency, bowling 11 overs including eight maidens, finishing with one for nine. Western was pick of the bowlers with three for 27, BECC were all out for 88.

After the interval, openers Mark Taylor and Mitch Hackshaw looked comfortable, but it took only eight overs for Brighton to strike, taking the wicket of Hackshaw, caught for 14.

Gray and Tom Whitehead made vital contributions but Taylor (24) scored the majority of the runs. Western (14*) and Osborne (3*) saw the team home after 27 overs on a difficult batting pitch, West Wittering winning by three wickets.

W Chiltington & Thakeham II v Aldwick II

Division seven

Aldwick suffered a defeat by 151 runs after the home side posted a huge 273 for seven from 45 overs.

West Chiltington opener Charlie Reeve fell just seven short of a ton and starred in a good second wicket partnership with Rob Llewellyn (45).

Andy Burtenshaw (2-48) and Jay Ahuji (3-43) made inroads in the home side’s middle order but Stephen Hodson (41*) and Jake Hodson (37*) took it away from the visitors with a late flurry.

Aldwick’s batsmen were no match for the home side’s bowling attack as Jake Hodson (3-15), Alan Reeves (3-33) and Matt Hennings (2-13) cleaned up.

Apart from Matt Robinson’s 37 not out and skipper Dave Robinson’s worthy defensive innings, the rest of the side crumbled and they ended 122 all out.