From 40-3 to 44 all out - Sam's the man to spark collapse

Bognor blew away Pagham in the league but lost to Horsham in the T20 - while Middleton tasted victory in both competitions.
Pagham's 2016 line-up / Picture by Kate ShemiltPagham's 2016 line-up / Picture by Kate Shemilt
Pagham's 2016 line-up / Picture by Kate Shemilt

Read the latest reports below from our local Sussex Cricket League division-two sides - and catch up with all the action in the Observer, every Thursday.

Bognor v Pagham

Sussex League division two

A stunning bowling performance from Bognor completely demolished local rivals Pagham in the sides’ first meeting for over a year.

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Sam Adams took a quite remarkable seven for 15, orchestrating a Pagham collapse from 40 for three to 44 all out, a long way shy of Bognor’s target of 184.

Batting first on a good deck, Bognor accumulated steadily, despite Pete Cotterill (6-83) chipping in with regular wickets.

The mainstay of the Bognor effort was Jim Fallick’s 63, and contributions from the rest of the order dragged the home side to a competitive total. They’d needn’t have worried, however, as Adams stole the show, while Andrew Greig chipped in with three wickets of his own.

The Pagham batting entirely capitulated, leaving Bognor winners by a scarcely believable margin of 140 runs.

Bognor v Horsham

T20 Cup

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Sunday saw Bognor host Horsham, and batting first again, a changed sided was indebted to Max Ashmore’s 47 carrying them to 143 all out.

The pick of the Horsham bowlers undoubtedly Michael Munday, whose 5-8 from his four overs was to prove unsurprisingly pivotal.

Horsham’s chase was impressive, and they eventually cruised to the target by eight wickets, with Michael Thornley blasting a blistering 106* from 64 balls to give Horsham a comfortable victory.

Middleton v Eastbourne

Sussex League division two

For the second successive week, Middleton faced the current league leaders.

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The visitors to Sea Lane were Eastbourne, relegated from the premier division with Middleton last year.

Eastbourne chose to bat first. Middleton bowlers struck early with Matt Cooke dismissing opener Walter Hichu thanks to a tumbling catch by Sean Heather at slip for just 11, with the score on 12.

It was the first of three high-quality catches by Heather.

Jamie Thompson’s opening spell brought four wickets and he came back later to pick up the final wicket and his fifth when Patrick Colvin claimed his third catch of the innings. Eastbourne were 145 all out in the 45th over.

In reply Middleton chose to be positive in chasing a relatively-small total. Will Affleck and Heather shared a second-wicket partnership of 46, Affleck was caught when on 30 and Heather out for 40, with the score on 95.

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A fourth wicket falling on 99 left Eastbourne sensing a chance. But Ben Hansford had different ideas, hitting 44 not out including eight fours and a six off 29 balls to guide Middleton home. They reached the total five wickets down in the 35th over.

Middleton v Southwater

T20 Cup

Southwater elected to bat but struggled against the Middleton bowling and only Johann Brouwer with 41 managed to make any impression and when he was fifth out with the score on 95, the writing looked to be on the wall.

They closed on 127 with their final wicket falling in the 20th over. Pick of the Middleton bowlers was Tommy Davies with 3-18 off his four overs.

In reply Will Affleck and Sean Heather got off to a positive start and Affleck was not out until the score had reached 58. A second wicket falling on 71 brought Will Burrows to the crease.

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Together Heather and Burrows steered their side to an eiht-wicket victory in the 17th over. Heather finished 77 not out and Burrows 24 not out.

Crawley 2nd v Bognor 2nd

2nd XIs Division 3 West

Crawley won the toss and elected to field and Bognor lost opener Iain Ashmore for a duck as the ball ricocheted off bat and boot to trickle on to the wicket.

Fellow opener Josh Broad and old campaigner Bernie Burns moved the score to 85 before Burns was bowled for 12. All-rounder Charlie Hunter was lbw for nine.

Veteran Graham Ball joined Broad and Broad’s pugnacious drives and pulls meant a maiden senior century was his. Ball joined the party with a composed 50 before he was caught and Broad soon followed for a fine 136.

Bognor declared on 235 for 6.

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In the reply, Hunter bowled with pace and menace and he and Andy McGregor bagged two wickets apiece as Crawley wobbled at 17 for 4, one a skier well held by Joe Delaney.

A well-taken catch up to the stumps by Josh Seward off Dan Winslow and a wicket for Josh Broad put Bognor in charge.

Nadir was undone by John Hooker courtesy of an inside edge on to the stumps and soon Crawley were all out for 118.

Hunter ended with 3 for 21 and McGregor 3 for 25 as Bognor won by 117 runs.

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