Cricket: Bognor and Chichester on the up

Things are going well for our two local teams in the division - here are the latest reports.

Bognor v Rottingdean

Sussex League division three

On another fine Regis Oval pitch with ‘thousands of runs in it’ according to head groundsman Jon Denby, Bognor beat Rottingdean to strengthen their position in top spot.

Bognor duo Josh Broad and Charlie La Foret (both 1-43) snaffled the Dean openers to leave the visitors at 51 for two.

Rottingdean checked the advance as the Ledden brothers put on 50 before George Ledden was run out for 25 by a fine effort from La Foret to leave them 101 for three.

However, as has been the case in recent weeks, one of the Bognor boys weighed in with a superstar performance. This week it was the turn of spinner Joe Ashmore, who twirled through the Dean line up to take an excellent six for 85, including the wicket of Henry Ledden for 55.

A few lusty blows from Michael Smith, with 55 not out from 38 balls, saw Rottingdean to 220 all out.

Mikey Harris and Andy Quincey made a decent start before Quincey was caught off the bowling of Craig Lees for 13. A well-paced 78-run partnership between the impish Harris and the wristy Max Ashmore took Bognor merrily along before Harris was dismissed for 48.

The time was perfect for flame-haired flayer Ryan Maskell to grab the game by the scruff of the neck and the keeper-batsman delivered a sublime 87 not out off 45 balls, the ball being peppered to all parts.

With Max Ashmore enjoying the fireworks from the relative safety of the non-striker’s end finishing on 60 not out, Bognor won by eight wickets and ten overs to spare.

The victory keeps Bognor on top with a trip to Steyning next.

Chichester v Steyning

Division three

Friday’s heavy rain had left the outfield damp but that didn’t stop Steyning electing to bat first.

There was a celebratory mood in Priory Park – wicketkeeper John Edwards had played his 300th first XI match for the club a week earlier.

The man nicknamed Eagle by his team-mates was soon soaring as he took three early catches off Matt Geffen.

The seam bowler continued his fine form as he took the first four wickets to fall to leave Steyning struggling at 40 for four.

Oliver Collins and Gary Hunt put on 34 for the fifth wicket as they tried to consolidate after early losses. They weren’t able to keep Edwards out the game for long, though, as he completed a smart stumping off Ben Caldera and Hunt was gone for 18.

Chichester were soon celebrating another milestone as young pace bowler Albie Condron took his maiden first-team wicket to dismiss Steyning captain Dave Kennett.

Collins marshalled the tail well, passing 50. In partnership with Steve Chimhamhiwa and Andy Issacs, Collins (83no) saw Steyning through to the interval and they closed on 175 for nine. Geffen finished with his second five-wicket haul of the year, five for 57.

The chase was made a little harder when Peter Lamb was dismissed for a duck in only the second over. Man of the moment Edwards led the counter-attack and he and Jolyon Dannatt put on 89 for the second wicket.

Edwards was denied a half century on his big day as he was adjudged lbw to Andy Issacs for 46. Dannatt was dismissed for the same score, bowled by Toby Glover.

Captain Dan Weigl hit a brisk 25 before he became Glover’s second victim. Caldera and George Stephens came together with the score on 129 for four, 47 runs away from the target.

Steyning should have run out Caldera before any more had been scored. A mix-up saw both batsmen running for the same end. Somehow wicketkeeper Gus Scott dropped the throw and Caldera scrambled back to safety.

Caldera (25no) and Stephens (27no) saw Chichester home without any further dramas to complete a six-wicket victory.

Chichester go fifth, just 38 points off the second promotion place. They go to Portslade this Saturday.

Southwater 2nd v Bognor 2nd

2nd XI division three west

Bognor’s decision to bat first did not appear a good one as they were quickly reduced to nought for two. The unfortunate start was halted as wicketkeeper Harry Hood (61), Sam Newcombe (41) and Dan Marshall (52no) saw Bognor to 226 all out.

Southwater began well as Bryan Streeter (89) and Brouwer (49) set up a decent platform. Bognor’s John Woosley (2-24) and Jon Denby (2-57) kept the visitors in the hunt with support from Newcombe (2-60) but Southwater won by four wickets.

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