Portslade stay in top two after draw at leaders

Alex Smith took three wickets for Portslade on Saturday

Portslade picked up 13 points in a draw away to leaders Burgess Hill, while Mayfield claimed just seven points in a seven-wicket loss to Haywards Heath and are now 11 points behind Portslade with four games remaining. Burgess Hill have a 33 point lead at the top.

Chichester, Haywards Heath and Findon will also be in the promotion mix if they finish the season strongly, with sixth-placed Findon just 35 points behind Portslade.

After winning the toss on Saturday, Portslade batted first and reached 235-7 from their 53 overs, before Burgess Hill finished their reply on 170-6.

Opening batsman David Wainwright laid the foundations for Portslade’s total with 54 from 125 balls. He put on 43 for the opening wicket with Joel Crook (18) and then added 41 for the second wicket with Ian Wainwright (27) and 72 for the third wicket with Alex Smith (44).

Quick runs then came down the order from Steven Case, who smashed four fours and two sixes in 42 off 26 deliveries and captain Paul Glover, who struck 26 from 13 balls.

Mohamed Zain Patel led the Burgess Hill attack with 4-85 from 24 overs.

Portslade reduced Burgess Hill to 59-4 in their reply but 39 from 83 balls by Ben Hopkins and a run-a-ball 34 from Patel helped Burgess Hill hold on for the draw.

Smith claimed 3-25 from nine overs for Portslade, Thomas Stewart-Green picked up 2-62 and Nick Clark took the other wicket to fall as Portslade used eight different bowlers.

Portslade entertain fifth-placed Haywards Heath on Saturday.

They then travel to second-from-bottom Goring and Chichester, before finishing their season at home to Findon on September 3.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1) Make our website your homepage at www.shorehamherald.co.uk/

2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ShorehamHerald

3) Follow us on Twitter @Shoreham_Herald

4) Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!

The Shoreham Herald - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.