Rain disrupts the Sussex Cricket League

Only one game in the Premier League was played to a conclusion where a defeat at East Grinstead hardly helped Worthing’s battle against relegation.

Horsham were in a strong position against Roffey, where they made 251-3 declared with skipper Craig Gallagher hitting 100 and Will Beer 90. In reply Roffey were 92-3 when the rain came and ended the contest.

East Grinstead raced to 241-7 declared at home to Worthing with 95 from Tim Davey and 67 from Sussex Academy prospect Ollie Graham as Matt Green proved the most successful Worthing bowler, he took 4-43.

The visitors were then dismissed for 182, of which Michael Gould hit 66 and Ian Gooding 44. Graham grabbed 4-31 and Sam Jewiss 3-27.

East Grinstead are now hot on the heels of Horsham and Hastings behind runaway leaders Preston Nomads, who head Horsham by 60 points.

Nomads looked on course to beat three Bridges when the rains brought things to a halt.

Bridges, batting first, were dismissed for 188 of which James Chadburn made 46 and skipper Danny Alderman 44 not out as leg-spinner Patrick Spencer took 6-49 in 19 overs and Owen Kernan took 3-29.

Nomads stood at 66-1 when the game was called off.

Harry Finch hit 121 for Hastings, including 19 fours, as his side declared at 260-6 from 55 overs at home to Cuckfield. For whom Kesh Maharaj took 3-71 and Harry Clark 3-54.

Cuckfield reached 120-2 from 34.3 overs with 70 from Oliver Altenhof and 31 from Greg Wisdom, Elliot Hooper taking 2-19.

The relegation battle at Brighton and Hove where Chichester were the visitors also ended in stalemate. Brighton made 194-8 declared and Chichester were stranded at 18 without loss.

In the Brighton innings James Stedman took 3 for 62 and Matt Geffen 3 for 47.

Division Two: All five games in Division Two were hit by the weather and none was played to a conclusion.

As a result Eastbourne remain 16 points clear of second placed Goring.

It is looking as if two of Eastbourne, Goring and Bexhill will gain promotion whilst Pulborough and Glynde are starting to look relegation certainties having won just one game between them all season.

Leaders Eastbourne put Pulborough in and found them a tough proposition to dismiss.

The home side made 216-4 declared with 78 from Stuart Barber and 67 from Jonathan Bennett. Eastbourne had made 28 without loss when it rained.

Division 3 (West): There was little change in Division 3 West as the weather contributed greatly with only one definite result today.

Billingshurst are now 32 points clear of Stirlands after their game with Henfield was halted with the visitors on 167-4.

Earlier Dhanushka Mitapolaarachchi made 122 not out as Billingshurst declared nine overs early on 250-7.

Ed Clarke made 52 as Stirlands finished on 198-9. Fazlan Nizamdeen taking 4-60 before Crawley Eagles’ innings was halted on 69-2.

Ramesh Subasinghe did his best to help close the gap with the top two hitting an unbeaten 52 and taking 2-16 in Arundel’s innings. Steyning made 229-6 but the game ended with Arundel on 63-3.

Bognor Regis were in the box seat when their game with Slinfold was abandoned. Their 229-6 owed much to Sam Taylor’s 127 along with 58 from Elliott Clarke. Slinfold had reached 6-1 when the rain came.

Wisborough Green beat Pagham by 54 runs. 49 from Tim Dodd was the highest contribution but Jamael Fernandez took 5-24. Fernandez also struck 44 but the Pagham reply was cut back by 5-32 from Tim Monday 5-32.