Haywards Heath romp to win against Findon

Heading into the clash, Heath had tasted three defeats in their past three outings but figures of 4-23 from Smith helped them get back on track.

Skipper Smith won the toss and had no hesitation in deciding his side would bat first.

Openers Isaac Leckie and Chris Blunt ensured that was the correct choice as they put on 70 for the first wicket.

Blunt fell first for 27 but Leckie hung around clocking up his half-century.

Leckie’s runs came at a quick pace, before he went for 67 off 73 balls, which included 11 fours and a single maximum.

Heath’s opener was not the only batter to clock up a half-century with Johnny Phelps following his suit aswell.

Phelps’s 54 came at an important time and when he departed Haywards Heath were well placed at 170-4 .

Ollie Bailey then kept up his side’s momentum but when he went for 21 a batting collpase followed.

After Bailey departed, Heath fell from 192-5 to 203 all out.

The collapse saw them lose their final five wickets for just 11 runs with all inning momentum seeming to go with it aswell.

Mark Solway took four wickets, including three of the final four to fall, while Felix Jordan chipped in with three as Findon pulled themselves back into the contest with some fine late innings bowling.

Heath knew they needed to take some early wickets to attempt at grabbing the initiative back.

Skipper Bradley Bridson fell for just five, while Solway went for a run-a-ball 18 as Findon were wobbling a little at 44-2.

Opener Harry Metters then went soon after having made 26 to leave their side 67-3.

Glenn Bridson tried his best to help Findon to an unlikely victory making a half-century.

Bridson fell for 51 and with very little support from other batters his side were left on the brink.

When Bridson fell, his side were 129-7 leaving them along way off the winning line.

Craig Connolly ended unbeaten on 12 but Findon were eventually bundled out for 142 in 36.3 overs.

Skipper Smith lead his side with impressive figures of 4-23 from his ten overs, with Matthew O’Keefe taking three as Heath recorded a vital victory.

Haywards Heath will be looking to make it back-to-back league wins when they travel to Steyning on Saturday.

n Haywards Heath’s 2nd XI fell to a six-wicket defeat at Rye 2nd XI on Saturday.

Heath batted first and saw a number of their batters make starts but fail to kick on in the Sussex League 2nd XI Division 3 East encounter.

Skipper Peter Dunk decided his side would bat first and they made steady progress in the opening stages.

Nilesh Dudal (22), Dunk (22), Hannah Phelps (23), Ben Matthew (19) and Faizan Bhojani (23) all made starts but none could go on and make that telling contribution.

Joshua Woodfield weighed in with ten, while Fraser Russell was undefeated on 11 but Heath’s 2nd XI were bundled out for 162 in 52.3 overs.

Ross Pierce took four wickets for Rye, while Martin Blincow took three.

Rye had two batters make half-centuries in their reply as they cruised to a six-wicket triumph.

Pete Thomson top-scored with 72, while Spencer Fielding fell for 50 exactly but things were well set-up.

Tim Morgan (eight not out) and Tim Brownbill (15*) guided Rye to 165-4 in 38 overs. Woodfield finished with two wickets.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.midsussextimes.co.uk

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/midsussextimes

3) Follow us on Twitter @midsussex_times

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Mid Sussex Times - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.