Now Middleton and Pagham are both flying

Here are the latest reports from the two clubs plus details of an Ashes encounter taking place at Middleton this weekend.

Brighton and Hove v Middleton

Sussex Premier League

Middleton took a maximum 30 points for the second game in a row when they travelled to Hove.

Captain Sean Heather again won the toss and elected to field. A very good opening spell by Jofra Archer reduced Brighton to 49 for four in the ninth over, with Archer’s figures three for 20.

Brighton staged a partial recovery with Alisdair Wilson (44) and Chris Atherton (23) putting on 54 for the fifth wicket.

It was left to Anthony Ender to break through bowling Atherton, Mike Atherton’s younger brother, with the score on 103. Middleton continued to take wickets regularly and when Jamie Thompson bowled Henry Turner, Brighton finished all out for just 193 in 37.2 overs, Archer finishing with four for 56.

Middleton set about the run chase at a good rate with openers Heather and Beck Hemingway scoring freely. Both had reached 25 when they fell.

It was down to Rob Willway and Will Burrows to stabilise the innings in the face of some very good bowling, in particular by Jack Chopping. The pair added 44 before Burrows became the third Middleton player to dismissed for 25.

Archer and Patrick Colvin put on 45 before both lost their wickets, leaving Giles Haythornethwaite and Ender to see Middleton home, with six wickets down in 57.2 overs. Chopping took three for 31.

* MIDDLETON Sports Club is gearing up for a big day as it hosts an Ashes match in rhe run-up to the real thing starting in less than a fortnight.

The Sea Lane ground is set to welcome a large crowd this Sunday (June 28) for a clash between England and Australia’s over-60s teams.

The Seevent-sponsored match starts at midday.

Light snacks will be available over lunch and there’ll be a barbecue in the evening. The bar will be open all day.

Three Bridges v Pagham

Sussex League division two

Having won the toss, Pagham decided to bat first on what looked to be a perfect batting wicket.

Openers Stuart Rutter (17) and Stuart Hanks (19) made a steady start before Stuart Rutter edged to the keeper.

Ryan Baratt made a brief visit to the middle before edging to the slips without troubling the scorers.

Stuart Hanks hooked a short ball from Andrew Smith to long leg and was well caught. At 48 for three, Pagham needed a stand and this was well provided by Joe Turner 64 and Eranga (55), who put on 110 for the fourth wicket – but then a flurry of wickets reduced them to 157 for six.

However a belligerent 31 from Joe Metz saw Pagham get to 201 for nine and then a quickfire 20 not out from Sean Rutter saw Pagham end up on a par score of 227. Left-arm spinner Michael Rose ended with five for 57.

In reply the home side started well and soon reached 156 for three but the introduction of Justin Scott paid immediate dividends with a wicket in his first over.

Although runs kept coming at around four an over, wickets also fell regularly and with three overs left Three Bridges needed 11 to win with one wicket left.

Justin Scott took his fifth wicket thanks to a fantastic catch from Ryan Barratt at gully to remove Andrew Smith and give Pagham a win. Scott ended with four for 42 and was well supported by Nabib Rahman, who got another four-wicket haul for 44.

Pagham entertain Worthing this Saturday in what should be an exciting derby at Nyetimber Lane.

Pagham 2nd v Chichester PP 2nd

Sussex 2nd XI division two

Pagham and Chichester played out a thrilling draw which kept both teams in the hunt for promotion.

On one of the finest Pagham pitches manufactured, Pagham racked up 244 for seven before declaring, Sam Dickens (64) and Ian Dyer (60*) causing most of the damage. Chichester were thankful for Elliot Pursers (4-34).

At 22 for five, following a great spell by Jon Cotterill (4-32) Chichester were on their knees – but James Chriss (69) batted resiliently against a strong bowling attack to recover the innings, amid missed opportunities in the field.

Wayne Green (4-51) picked up important late wickets but not the important one of Richard Cheswick (46*) who saw Chichester through to 176 for nine and a share of the spoils.

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