Middleton v Billingshurst

A top-of-the-table clash at Middleton could have gone either way.
Billingshurst captain Scott Stratton won the toss and chose to field.

Middleton's top-order problems returned and an excellent opening spell by Andy Welfare saw him pick up four quick wickets.

At 21 for four, the home side were in trouble, but Mark Hoare got them out of it. He saw off Billingshurst's hostile opening bowlers and was well-supported initially by Chris Spedding, who struck 21.

Hoare and Bran Hanley put on 88 and that changed the game.

They took the score to 150 before Hanley was removed. Hoare was run out by smart fielding on 81.

Middleton closed on 188 for eight.

Openers John and Pete Burroughs were comfortable against the new ball until John gloved an attempted pull to Matt Warren.
Pete cut straight to Stuart Nelmes, handing Mark Carroll his second wicket.

Hanley reverted to off-spin which was difficult to play.

He removed overseas player Taraia Robin caught and bowled and Madgewick had Stratton caught.

It was 70 for five and it was down to Lowther to lead the Billingshurst resistence.

He looked comfortable against Hanley's spin, and when able to play strokes, he capitilised to good effect.

He found support in Woodman, taking the score to 96 before both fell caught and bowled by Hanley.

Jefferies dug in to try to see out the draw, but was run out by Madgewick.

Carroll removed Dudman and Hanley switched back to medium pace to finish things off when Polson played on.

Bognor v Slinfold

Bognor came within one wicket of defeating second-placed Slinfold, but had to settle for the draw.

Bognor openers Tom La Foret (23) and Max Ashmore (28) and No3 Jim Fallick all got starts – but none could go on to make a big score.

But when Dammika Perera (57) came in at 92 for four, he recorded another fine 50.

The lower order could not muster enough runs to take it to 200 as fine bowling by Tom Filby earned him five for 57. Bognor ended on 187 for nine.

Slinfold's reply did not start well, Perera dismissing Simon Stevens in the first over without scoring.

This bought in Jonathan Augustus, probably the best batsman in the league, to face Perera, perhaps the league's premier fast-bowler.

The contest did not last long, as Perera clean-bowled Augustus for three.

Slinfold's Steven Haines (20) and James Mitra (43) put on 63 for the third wicket and Bognor turned to spinners Kevin McGuigan and
Elliott Clarke.

Clarke removed Guy Thorne through a leg-side catch from keeper Glenn West. Then West thought he had run out Awcock, only for the umpire to rule he was not out.

Slinfold were 175 for seven going into the last over.

Perera dismissed Awcock with the second ball, and Filby with the fifth to end with five for 39. But Matt Yates survived and the game ended as a draw.