Buxted Park favourites to take cricket title – but Crowhurst Park wait for slip-up

Winning the toss against Portslade, Buxted Park captain Tom Clift elected to bat.

Already-relegated Portslade got off to a positive start removing Redding Barnes for four, who was joined by Finley Coddington (11) back in the pavilion.

Iain Allan came in and after hitting his first ball over the pavilion, went on to make a quickfire 47 off just 23 balls before departing following an excellent catch by Ellis Candy off Nyeem Rosemond (2-40).

Nicholas Cockcroft (five) came and went and Alfie Hunter was bowled off Daniel Morley, leaving Buxted Park126-5.

When Clift and Chris James both fell, Buxted found themselves in trouble at 149-7, with tight bowling from Steven Case (2-20) restricting them.

Craig Olive (21) offered some lusty blows before being caught in the deep. Dominic Heater (30*) joined Ollie Jones with the score 168-8.

The pair batted well against tight bowling, then added some boundaries. Jones was run out for 18 with the score 203-9.

Isaac Heater (23*) joined his brother and offered four boundaries from 11 balls to boost Buxted’s total to 244-9.

Park have failed to defend only once in this season, so were full of confidence they could continue their record.

This was proven when Isaac Heater (1-15) made the first breakthrough, bowling Candy for nought. Olive (4-21) went about his business, removing Morley and Owen Piper in quick succession, leaving Portslade 5-3.

The wickets continued to fall from both ends as Buxted’s relentless attack gave Portslade little opportunity to score, supported by a good team fielding effort.

When Jamie Walsgrove departed, Slade were 53-8, and staring down the barrel.

Andrew Mamoany (17), Nathan Lettres (13) and Case (26) doubled the total with all three striking some nice blows. Portslade ended on 109 all out, 135 runs short of their target.

Buxted Park are 18 points clear at the top with at least a play-off spot guaranteed after Ifield were defeated – and 12 points or more will seal the title and automatic promotion to the second tier.

Elsewhere, the 2nd XI won by six wickets against Uckfield and 13 points on the last day will seal promotion to Division 7 East.

Buxted Park visit Crawley Eagles on the final day of the 2022-23 campaign.

Crowhurst Park retain second place in Division 3 East with one game to go after beating Ifield by 92 runs.

Chasing a target of 230 set by the Crows, Ifield could not cope with the spin of Ollie Constable (2-23) and Nick Peters (4-17).

Raminda Wijesooriya (51) resisted but once Ifield’s middle order was exposed the result was predictable. Jamie Bristow Diamond (2-42) took the first and last wickets as the home side were all out for 137.

Earlier, Clive Tong (67) top scored as the innings closed on 229 on the penultimate ball.

This result sees Park secure second place but they could finish first if they win and Buxted Park have an off-day on Saturday.

Crowhurst Park 2nd 185 (15pts) v Pevensey 215-all out

Electing to bat first, Pevensey lost an early wicket but a partnership of 91 between Guy Moore (52) and Josh Dowsett (68), both falling to Liketh Mestha (4-42), helped the home side set a reasonable target. Joseph Lovell (4-32) also contributed with the ball.

In reply Park lost the first four wickets for 22. Park looked out of the game on 94-7 There followed an unlikely partnership of 70 between skipper James Bunday (62) and Josh Jones (62) giving them a chance – but Park were dismissed 30 runs short.

For Pevensey, wickets were shared but Daniel Baptiste (2-22) and Ollie Moore (2-17) had the best figures.

Battle 110 all out; St Peter’s 2nd XI: 113 for 5. St Peter’s won by 5 wickets

Battle made the journey to Battle with what could be best described as a ‘makeshift side’ despite what has been a decent season so far.

Having been asked to bat first, a positive start was made between Kye Phillips (25) and skipper Jo Carthew (18). Three wickets in an over to the languid and deceptive seam bowling of Kit Middleton-Paine (4-19) rather knocked the stuffing as well as the top order out of the visitors though, and it became something of a struggle.

George Howard-Smith (19) flourished briefly and Rob Poulter (13) added useful runs but Aryan Kulkarni’s leg-spin (4-11) proved too much for most of the rest.

In reply, St Peter’s seemed in a hurry. Pete Maynard worked through his bag of slower balls to take an excellent 5-67 for Battle and give the visitors an inkling of an upset, but the straight driving of Bryan Hilton (26) and Aaron Andrews (29*) took the home side over the line.

Sidley 127 (9pts); Hellingly II 130-6 (30pts)

Division 10 East

Sidley suffered a four-wicket loss at home to Hellingly seconds.

The defeat came despite a fine all-round display from captain Craig Ramsden, who scored a half-century and took four wickets.

Sidley were asked to take first knock and got off to the worst possible start, losing both openers for ducks.

They fell to 57-6 before hopes were raised by a partnership of 59 between Ramsden and Jacob McDonough (26).

Ramsden ended with 51 (10 fours and a six) as Sidley were all out for 127 in 24.5 overs.

In reply, Hellingly got more than halfway to the target just one down before Sidley claimed four wickets for 15 and it was 82-5.

Opening batsman eventually departed for 41, the visitors got over the winning line in 28.5 overs.

Ramsden finished with 4-21, while Steve Ramsden and Neil Priddy picked up a wicket each.

* Sidley twos ended their Division 12 East (South) campaign with an eight-wicket win away to Crowhurst Park fourths.

Sidley bowled Park out for 137 in 38.2 overs, with Ryan Polton taking 5-24 and a couple of wickets each for Oliver Cole and Harry Little. Little blasted 74 not out off 43 balls as Sidley raced to their target in 18.4 overs for the loss of two wickets. James Rayner made 22.

Battle 2nd XI 164 all out; Little Common Ramblers 3rd XI: 131 all out. Battle won by 33 runs

A young Battle side saw off Ramblers with a spirited performance at George Meadow.

Batting first, Kieran Dudgeon (32) and skipper Andy Poulter (18) put on 61.

Guy Ballard made 22 before being stumped off Delroy Reid (2-30). Despite Perry Holland’s 3-27 and Dave Oughton’s 2-1, an important stand between Steve Huggins (22) and Harvey Steed (23) helped the home sideto a useful total of 164.

Most of the visiting batting was stacked in their top four, but the Dudgeon brothers were up to the task with the ball, with Michael taking 2-29 (one courtesy of a fine catch from Huggins) and Kieran 2-40.

Louis Berryman (2-16) was excellent, but the last decisive wicket of Perry Holland (43) fell to James Baldock (2-42) with Kieran Dudgeon taking a well-judged catch. Late resistance from Calvin Crosby (11*) and Ben Mitchell (12) was not enough as Ramblers fell short by 33.

Denton I v Bexhill III

Sussex League Div 9 East

At 119-2 after 19 overs Denton looked on course to set a challenging target.

Captain Liam Paulton (32) had been run out by Steve Phillimore, but when Martin Deva also went for 43 Bexhill took control and the hosts fell to 128 all out. Adam Smith (4-24) and Owen Cullip (2-28) did most of the damage.

Wobbling at 31-3 after Gary Wick’s 25, Phillimore made an undefeated 51 to see Bexhill home at 129-4.

Louis Haffenden 17 and Cullip (14*) assisted. Poulton and Kai Davis took two apiece for Denton.

Newick v Isfield

Division 5 East

It was as if Newick were in a time warp with several of old guard in the line-up for this match.

Isfield elected to field. Runs were hard to come by for Newick and it took Mark Budd (51) to push the score along and the final total was 132 all out in the 28th over.

Lloyd Jones opened and scored 21. Isfield bowler, James Fellows took 3-29.

In reply Isfield passed the score in the 25th over for the loss of three wickets. Newick bowlers Scott Warren, Mat Sawyer and Jones took a wicket each. Huw Williams top-scored with 57.

Nutley 207-4 beat Wadhurst 201-9

Division 10 East

Nutley went back to the top of Division 10 East following a good home win against third-placed Wadhurst and a surprising defeat for leaders Robertsbridge.

Having been asked to bat Wadhurst made a slow start before Joe Everdell (82) set about the home bowlers to boost the run rate. He was well supported by Sam Evans (34).

However, once they both fell the visitors lost wickets regularly closing on 201-9.

Warren Freer (3-40) and Alan Poulter (3-46) were the pick of the home bowlers with good support from Paul Carter (2-29)

In reply Nutley also started slowly before Mark Reed (46) picked up the pace. Aggressive knocks from Vivek Singh (86*) and Oskar Ainley (42*) then took the hosts to 207-4 and a six-wicket victory to reclaim top spot.

Burgess Hill v BarcombeDiv 5 Central

Burgess Hill 182 all out in 36.2 overs; Josh Wheatley 2-19 Kane Black 2-19 Allan Trower 2-24 Harry Stewart 2-26 Nick Beck 2-52; Barcombe 184-8 in 32.2 overs; Will Marler 33 Harry Stewart 30 Allan Trower 26no Kane Black 22 Stan Hughes 22no. Barcombe won by 2wkts.

Barcombe 2nds v Blackboys

Div 11 East (North)

Blackboys 231-8 in 40 overs; Max Taylor 2-33 Paul Coppard 2-37 Will Johanson 2-46; Barcombe 134 all out in 37.2 overs; Ade Broadway 33. Barcombe lost by 97 runs.

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