Middleton and Priory fall short but Bognor and Stirlands shine again

Here are the reports...

Brighton and Hove v Middleton

Sussex premier

With one eye on the unpredictability of the Brighton wicket, Middleton captain Sean Heather decided to put Brighton into bat after winning the toss for the fourth week in a row.

Brighton got off to a good start with Issac Taylor and Bryce Hounsome putting on 60 for the first wicket. Taylor was caught by Heather off the bowling of Matt Reynolds for 25 before Matt Machan, the former Scotland and Sussex batsman, came in.

Machan was next out for 20 with the score on 101, caught by Middleton debutant Josh Wood off Heather.

All the Brighton top six got into the twenties but only Hounsome went on to build on it. He was third out for 53 with the score on 108. Brighton reached 235-9 from their 50 overs. Craig Fowle with 3-26 off ten overs was the pick of the Middleton bowlers.

Middleton’s reply never got going with wickets falling regularly. Both openers had gone with the score on ten inside the first two overs.

Nobody in the Middleton top order reached 20. Brandon Hanley top-scored with 19 and was last man out with the score on just 88.

Middleton are on the road this week to Preston Nomads, knowing their batters will need to improve.

Mayfield v Chichester Priory Park

Div 2

Chichester’s second away game of the year brought a long journey to Mayfield on the East Sussex/Kent border on a hot, sweltering day.

The picturesque Wellbrook ground pitted them against one of the favourites for the division-two title. Chichester captain Matt Geffen invited the hosts to bat.

The decision looked a good one early on as the Mayfield batters struggled to score fluently. Chichester kept picking up regular wickets and after 30 overs, Mayfield looked in a precarious position at 89-6.