West Sussex Invitation League: Nice batting - shame about the bowling

Aldwick v Chippingdale

Invitation League division three

Third-placed Aldwick faced league leaders Chippingdale and although their bowling performance was worthy of a top-three place, their batting performance was more worthy of a relegation place.

Aldwick opening bowlers Ollie Smith (3-37) and Adam Robinson (5-18) had the table toppers in all sorts of problems as they tumbled to 153 all out.

It was young Robinson’s first five-wicket haul for his club and both Chips openers were out without troubling the scorers. Simon Martyn top-scored with 35 closely followed by Amjad Riaz (33) and Jerry White (33).

Robinson was also Aldwick’s highest scorer but unfortunately it was with only 14. Declan Belcher (12) was the only other Aldwick batsmen to make double figures in an inept batting display from the home side’s line-up.

BWhat started as good day for Aldwick was eventually ruined by the bowling trio Ollie Hall (4-20), Lee Donaldson (3-33) and Aaron Tugnutt (3-5) ruined their hopes and although they remain third, it was a missed opportunity to become serious title contenders.

West Wittering v St Matthias

Invitation League division five

Wittering added just 15 points to their tally at the top of division five with a winning draw at home to St Matthias.

WW were asked to bat on what turned out to be a lively wicket. Ben Cook (1) was first to go, clean-bowled. Carl Tupper joined James White and after a slow start, the pair picked up the run rate, putting away the bad ball.

Tupper reached his first 50 of the season off 49 balls. The pair put on a partnership of 90 before Tupper was caught for 56.

White continued his good form and made 40 before being caught. The rest of the Wittering order added 70 runs to the total, plus extras, Wittering finished 197 all out from 47 overs.

It wasn’t until the 17th over, with the score on 51, that the first St Matthias wicket fell, their opener caught sharply in the slips by Tupper off Joe Pink’s bowling.

Leading run scorer in the league Baines-Jump faced just two balls before he was caught behind by White off Pink.

Pink took another before his spell was up, finishing with three for 12. The next pair put on another 50 and the chase was in sight for St Matthias. But Tupper bowled a wicket maiden to give the team a lift.

Osborne (2-33) bowled 15 overs and took two wickets at the end of his spell to push Wittering closer. Tupper (2-7) claimed another but that was Wittering’s lot. The game finished at 8.30pm with both teams disappointed with the result and format. Wittering remain top.

Warnham v Aldwick II

Division seven

Warnham rattled up a huge 260 for five and declared thinking they were firmly in the driving seat. However, they did not legislate for the tenacity of the Aldwick batsmen, who came within just seven runs of victory and earned a draw with 254 for eight.

Tom Hoare and Josh Sargeant (34) put on 130 for the fifth wicket with Hoare finishing just nine runs short of his maiden century. Good contributions from Dan Cooper (43) and Matt Robinson (38) helped set up the run chase but Warnham’s Mark Dear (5-45) kept the lid on things with a five-wicket haul.

Earlier, the home side’s opening batsmen James Dear (47) and Gary May (97) made the Aldwick openers toil. Dominic Roberts (56*) helped set up Warnham’s big total. Aldwick’s skipper Grant Wilson bowled 15 overs taking two for 61 and was proud of his team’s well-earned draw.

* Salthill CC are holding an open day at their headquarters at the Fishbourne Centre, Blackboy Lane, on Saturday, August 10.

There’ll be a chance to see the fourth Ashes Test on TV and then watch Salthill’s Hampshire League game from 2pm.

You can join the players for a cricket tea and then a barbecue after play.