Aldwick dstill hot on leaders’ heels

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Aldwick v Crawley Down

Invitation League division two

Another week, another thriller as second-placed Aldwick bowled a tight line at the death to deny table-toppers Crawley Down a victory.

Down’s Stuart Simmonds (108*) took his side within touching distance of a win chasing 182 for victory. With just one over to go, the visitors required 14 runs to win with just two wickets remaining. In the end, Simmonds managed only ten, leaving Down three runs short of their target.

Aldwick’s Adam Robinson (2-60), Louis Paul (3-31), Ollie Smith (2-34), and Keelan Belcher (0-47) put in top-class performances and had the visitors stranded on 178 for eight after 45 overs.

Adam Robinson started the fall of wickets by removing opener Warren Barker for a duck, and Louis Paul soon followed by bowling out Down’s No3 for just two, but despite regular wickets it was Simmonds who kept the visitors in the game.

Earlier, Aldwick also started on the back foot when opener Louis Paul was out for a duck, outwitted by Down’s best bowler of the day, Steve Ward (4-53).

In contrast, Paul’s opening partner Alex Cooper (56) followed last week’s huge century with a well-made half century and top scored for his team.

Further essential contributions came from Adam Robinson (47) and Dan Robinson (32) but equally important contributions from Down’s bowlers Liam Lindsay (3-58) and Dave Ward (2-34) kept the home side on their toes.

Crawley Down remain top with Aldwick second place but this week Aldwick will attempt to reverse the positions with a victory over Worthing Chippingdale.

Aldwick v Eastergate

WSIL T20 Cup

Aldwick are through to the quarter-finals of the T20 tournament at the first time of asking. In a very competitive tie they beat local rivals Eastergate by four wickets.

Curtis Drake weighed in with a very useful 38 as Eastergate posted 143 for eight from their 20 overs. Ed Firlotte was Aldwick’s most economical bowler with two for 18.

Opener Billy Tuner-Hogg (54) carried on where he left off last week with another winning knock and with good support from Dan Robinson (25*), Aldwick were victorious with five balls to spare.

West Wittering v Belgrave Adelaide

Division three

Trialing a 12.30pm start, the ten men of Belgrave Adelaide visited the Meadow and chose to bat first.

It took until the 12th over for Wittering to strike, with Woodford (16) run out by classy fielding by Stuart Moorey.

Some 30 overs had passed before the score reached 100, but with Belgrave six down. Two victims for James Staight (2-20) and three for Richard Hammond (3-29) were rewards for beautiful bowling.

Mani (56*) and Tharme (39*) kicked on in the last 15 overs, taking their total to 166 for six off 49 overs.

James Staight and Moorey got off to a flying start, hitting 23 runs off the first two overs. Staight (7) was caught in the deep off Jordan Woodsford, who would prove to be trouble for Wittering.

Moorey (37) and Carl Tupper (16) ticked things along until Moorey chipped one up off Woodsford. Tupper, James White (8), Jake Irwin-Brown (27) and Mitch Hackshaw (4) all fell during a classic Wittering Wobble, leaving the score at 104 for five off 20 overs.

Alistair Phillips-Hill (13) and John Williams (13) put on 24 for the next wicket but both fell. It was left to Hammond (7*) and Andy Priest (17*) to save the points, Hammond hitting the winning runs in the 36th over.

This week, Wittering travel to Horsham.

Southwick v Selsey

Division three

Selsey came away with an emphatic 117-run victory after being asked to bat first and declaring on 234 for seven off 47 overs.

Dave Benham with a fine 54 and Nick Horner, whose super season continued with 54 not out, were the backbone of the innings.

There were also contributions from Andy Horner, 23, Tom Benham 23, Nic Nolan, 20, and Pete Horner, 27.

In reply Southwick struggled against excellent bowling and were dismissed for 117. Tom Amis with super figures of five for 32, Pete Horner (3-22), Josh Stocks (1-24) and Tom Cripps (1-34) the wicket-takers and there was a stunning catch from Matt Weller at silly point.

Ifield 3rd v Aldwick 2nd

Division six

In a low-scoring game on a difficult wicket, Aldwick lost – but despite the loss, they remain second.

Consistent but scrappy batting from opener Charlie Constable (26) , Sachin Patel (21), Awais Malik (30) and Nyhrobi Carmichael (22*) was enough for Ifield to post a defendable final total of 146 all out in the 34th over.

As usual, skipper Grant Wilson (2-16) bowled well, but he was outshone by Tom Hoare (3-24).

Chasing 147 for victory should have been within the visitors’ grasp but early inroads from the home side’s opening pair of Antonio Stabile (3-35) and Nyhrobi Carmichael (3-24) put paid to this as only Luke Spindler (17) and Arthur Bradbury (14) could offer any resistance as their side were skittled out for just 102, losing by 44 runs.

This week Aldwick must lick their wounds and bounce back with a victory against Steyning III.

West Chiltington & Thakeham 3rd v West Wittering 2nd

Division eight

Wittering chose to bowl first on a sunny afternoon in the delightful surroundings of Amberley.

A lively opening spell from Jack Lyons and Rob Gray saw each took two wickets, the highlight a spectacular diving catch from Steen Claxton behind the stumps as the home team stuttered to 14 for four.

The change bowlers took the remainder of the wickets, including a hat-trick from veteran Kevin Allsobrook, and a one-ball one-wicket spell from young Will Finch as West Chilts bowled out for 58, with Danny Abbot and Scott Pulling top scoring with 13 each.

A productive opening spell from Matt Hennings saw Wittering slip to 26 for five with Hennings taking four wickets, excellently supported by the accurate Danny Abbot.

With wickets falling rapidly, opener Liam Bates collected runs steadily. Rob Gray settled the Wittering nerves with a quick-fire 12 with three successive boundaries, which coupled with Bates opening his shoulders for a few heavy hits to finish on 39 not out, meant Wittering won by five wickets with plenty of time to spare to remain top with seven wins out of seven.

Selsey 2nd v Ifield 4th

Division nine

Selsey won a low-scoring game after winning the toss and fielding, restricting Ifield to 91 all out.

Will Smith (3-11), James Chaloner (2-13), Jo Clarke (2-27), Ash Humphries (1-22) and Laurie Emmerson (1-7) were the the wicket takers.

In reply, Selsey made hard work of the total and won with two wickets remaining. Craig Mason with 20, Chaloner 16, Humphries 14 and 21 not out from Smith batting at nine got them home.

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