Middleton make hay... Bognor back on track

Middleton chalked up a win and a draw on a busy weekend at Sea Lane - while Bognor got back on track with a victory.
Andrew Greig of Bognor CC / Picture by Kate ShemiltAndrew Greig of Bognor CC / Picture by Kate Shemilt
Andrew Greig of Bognor CC / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Read the latest from division two of the Sussex League here - and in the Bognor Observer every Thursday.

Middleton v St James

Sussex League division two

Middleton entertained their supporters with an excellent display of batting on Saturday against visitors St James. Skipper Sean Heather elected to bat and Will Burrows and Beck Hemingway got their side away to a solid start, but with the score on 43 both departed, Hemmingway for 25 and Burrows for 16.

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That was the last success of the afternoon for the St James bowlers as Heather and Ben Ferbrache shared a partnership of 231 to take the Middleton score to 274 for two from 52 overs. Heather’s innings included 14 fours and two sixes, while Ferbrache struck five fours and four sixes.

It was Ferbrache’s first 100 in the Sussex League.

St James set about the task of chasing down the total in a positive way, with partnerships of 65 between brothers Harry and Jordan Rollings and 50 between Harry Rollings and Hector Loughton.

The Middleton bowlers worked hard and were supported by great ground fielding but about four overs from the end, St James shut up shop to settle for a draw. They finished 228 for eight.

Middleton v Guernsey

Sussex League division two

Both captains wanted the opportunity to bat first on the warmest afternoon of the season. Guernsey won the toss and Middleton, as expected, found themselves in the field.

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Matt Cooke struck with the first ball of the innings, trapping Josh Butler lbw for 0.

Zack Dammurll and Lucas Barker steadied the innings with a partnership of 77 before Tommy Davies (1-41) got justice for a fine opening spell by having Barker caught by keeper Will Burrows for 32.

Dammurll started to accelerate and looked set to post a hundred until Sean Heather ran him out with a direct hit on 93.

The score was 149-4 and the remaining six wickets fell for 42 runs, the last three falling to a hat-trick by Jamie Thompson.

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All the Middleton bowlers stuck to the task with Matt Cooke (3-40) and Craig Fowle (2-47) joining Thompson as the main wicket-takers.

In reply Middleton proved too strong for a decent Guernsey attack.

Beck Hemmingway with 48, Ben Hansford 40 and Patrick Colvin 39 all posted valuable runs. It was left to Heather and Ferbrache to resume their partnership from Saturday.

Coming together with the score on 147 they saw their side home without further loss in the 48th over. Heather finished not out 29 and Ferbrache 16 not out.

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On Sunday Middleton host Roffey in the semi-final of the county-league T20 Cup (1pm).

Bognor Regis v Ansty

Sussex League division two

Bognor returned to winning ways with a last-gasp victory against Ansty.

Winning the toss, Bognor’s skipper had no hesitation in electing to bat first. Bognor made a solid start against Ansty’s opening attack as Max Ashmore (51) and Ryan Maskell (45) looked in good touch with an opening partnership of 87.

Maskell blitzed his way to 45 before B Barker (1-21) made the breakthrough.

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Ashmore and Rob Willway stabilised the innings well before both fell in quick succession.

The introduction of spin halted Bognor’s progress and the home team were restricted to 166-6 thanks to G Anson (5-77) slow left arm.

Despite Bognor’s middle-order collapse captain Andrew Greig (27) took responsibility along with Woolnough (18) to get Bognor over 200. Bognor ended on 217-8 off their 53 overs.

Ansty’s approach started well as in-form Anderson (22) took the attack to the seamers. However pace off the ball proved effective against the top order as Joe Ashmore (5-45) and Jamie Woolnough (1-43) reduced the visitors to 76-3.

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The game was evenly poised with L Barker (43) taking the attack to the spinners. Joe Ashmore added to his tally, removing most of the top order.

Willway’s (1-22) introduction to claim Barker lbw proved to be a pivotal point. With Ansty’s top order removed their approach became defensive.

At 135-5 a draw was likely but Charlie Hunter (3-6) turned the game on its head with two wickets in quick succession followed by his third in his next over. Bognor required one wicket to claim all 30 points in the last over and Joe Ashmore bowled Barker (2) to win the game. Ansty were all out for 162.

Bognor hope to take their home form on the road this week as they travel to Lindfield.

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