Middleton’s search goes on... Pagham power on

Here are the latest reports from our top two local sides...

Horsham v Middleton

Sussex Premier League

Middleton put up a good fight at Horsham but ended up losing by four wickets.

Captain Sean Heather won the toss and elected to bat and the score had reached 35 when Beck Hemingway was first to go in the 12th over, caught for 19.

The Middleton batsmen looked comfortable against the Horsham seam attack and the score advanced to 64 without further loss. But in the 22nd over spinner Michael Munday was introduced into the attack. He immediately had Will Burrows caught attempting to sweep him in his first over. Munday finished with eight for 68 from a 19-over continuous spell.

Heather batted on while wickets steadily fell at the other end, reaching his hundred by hitting Munday straight down the ground for six. Heather was out in the final over of the innings for 114 , unselfishly looking to hit Munday for another six, in a quest to pick up the final two batting bonus points.

Middleton closed on 208 for nine at the end of the 58th over.

Umpire John Tomsett had to leave after news his son Luke had been injured while playing for Eastbourne against Roffey.

There was no stand-in available so his fellow umpire Steve Johnson was left to stand at both ends – a difficult job he did well.

Middleton had early success with Jamie Thompson carrying on where he had left of fthe previous week with very quick and hostile bowling, taking two of the first three wickets to fall.

The fall of the third wicket with the score on 40 brought brothers Tom and James Johnson together. An early delivery from Thompson to Tom Johnson was fended off his glove on to his helmet, narrowly evading the waiting slip cordon.

Tom Johnson reacted by hitting a 39-ball 50 and going on to complete a 59-ball hundred and, like Heather earlier, went to his hundred with a six. Horsham reached the total with six wickets down, Tom Johnson finishing 108 not out. Thompson was the pick of the Middleton bowlers with four for 58.

n At Sea Lane, the Middleton second team extended their unbeaten opening run to five matches. They dismissed Lindfield for 88, Richard Adams taking four for 32.

In reply Middleton lost only one wicket with Matt Warren finishing 42 not out and Ben Hansford 33 not out.

On Sunday Middleton played Chichester in a Sussex League T20 second-round match. Chichester won the toss and elected to field. Middleton ended on 173 for four, Toby Macer scoring 60 and Ben Hansford 59 not out. Chichester reached 124 for eight in reply with Beck Hemingway finishing with three for 22.

Crowhurst Park v Pagham

Sussex League division two

Crowhurst Park were invited to bat first and made a steady start.

They were 85 for three after 26 overs thanks largely to Dale Payne (36) and Bradley Payne (28) but then Pagham’s bowlers took charge with Nabid Rehman getting five for 35 and Sean Rutter three for 37.

Crowhurst ended on a well-below-par 132 all out. As usual Pagham’s fielding and bowling were top class and bottom club Crowhurst were outclassed.

Although Pagham lost skipper Stuart Rutter for 14, Stuart Hanks with 59 not out and Ryan Barratt (45no) had no problems seeing Pagham home to a comfortable nine-wicket victory, which takes them to the top of the table after five matches.

This Saturday Pagham welcome Lindfield to Nyetimber Lane in what should prove to be a much tougher game.

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 this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

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!