Priory pummell Crawley... Stirlands sink Southwater

Reports below...

Chichester Priory Park v Crawley

Sussex League division three

After their previous fixture fell victim to the rain, Chichester Priory Park needed a positive result to halt their recent slump in form – and they got it.

Visitors Crawley, currently bottom of division three, elected to bat after winning the toss.

They made a steady start, reaching 33 without loss. Even a 15-minute interruption didn’t seem interfere with their concentration.

Chichester’s opening bowlers Dan Joseph and Matt Geffen took a few overs to get into their stride but when they did, they were too much for Crawley’s batsmen to handle.

The list of statistics that could be reeled off to describe their performance is extensive. Crawley recorded five ducks, the same as the number of boundaries they scored, as they capitulated to 48 all out in just under 90 minutes of playing time. Joseph (5-18) and Geffen (5-26) showed great control of line and length and got a lot of movement off the pitch. Eight of the ten dismissals were bowled and the other two were leg before.

Defending such a small total was always going to be too much for Crawley. After a further rain delay Chichester’s openers quickly rattled off the runs they required. They did suffer the loss of Ezaz for 29 but his opening partner Simon Hasted (13no) clipped the winning runs in just the 11th over. A nine-wicket victory and the maximum 30 points were wrapped up inside three hours.

At the halfway point of the season Chichester sit fourth in the league. The top half of the division is very tight and the men from Priory Park are just 13 points off the top.

Chichester will need more performances like this if they want to earn promotion back to division two. They are at home on Saturday to Crowhurst Park.

Stirlands v Southwater

Division four

Stirlands returned to Church Lane to secure back-to-back wins and continue climbing the table.

Stirlands skipper George Coles elected to bat and the under-17 pair of Dom Fecher and George Briance provided the Birdham side with a solid start, being watchful and cautious.

Briance reached 15 before being caught and bowled by Daniel Skett. Will Gubbins joined Fecher, who continued in his unruffled manner while Gubbins looked to attack.

Gubbins was bowled by spinner Harrison Webb for 34 from 28 balls. Jake Moores’ demise brought captain Coles in but he was caught behind off Paul Osborne, part of a middle-order collapse for Stirlands.

Fecher was eventually out for a patient and well-constructed 59 from 113 balls. Matthew James saw out the innings for Stirlands as they finished on 140-9, which seemed under-par.

Within three overs of the reply, Southwater were three for two.

Left-arm spinner Struan Cameron removed Alex Harding lbw before Ajinkya Deshpande cannoned an inswinger into Greg Young’s off-stump.

Deshande and Cameron each took another wicket then captain Nick Baker’s attempt to hit Southwater back into the game ended as he holed out to Jake Moores off Cameron for 34.

Andy Carvell nicked Deshpande to keeper Adam Norris before Osborne fell lbw to Cameron sweeping.

Luke Berriman offered some resistance with 24 before he was caught and bowled by Deshpande, before Cameron finished things off. Webb drove the spinner to Gubbins at mid-off before Daniel Skett chipped Cameron back to the same bowler.

Stirlands’ victory was sealed by fantastic fielding and a team performance, bowling Southwater out for 98 in 31.3 overs, and bagging 24 points to climb to mid-table. Deshpande finished with 4-52 from 16 overs, while Cameron claimed 6-44 from 15.3.

Next up for Stirlands is a home fixture against Glynde.

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