No promotion for Bognor, Priory Park survive the drop

Sussex Cricket League Bognor’s first team travelled to Hassocks knowing a victory would take them into the Premier League.

Batting first a steady 43 from the spritely Mikey Harris was the mainstay of Bognor’s 202 all out with wickets shared amongst the St James’ bowlers.

In response, St James’ Harry Rollings careened a brisk 97 not out as the hosts chased down their target with over 10 overs to spare.

Despite not winning promotion, the season ends as a success for Bognor’s first team in finishing third, their highest league position since returning to the Sussex League structure in 2008. Chichester Priory Park hosted Haywards Heath at Goodwood with both teams having something to play for, albeit at different ends of the table. Chichester knew that even if they lost, six bonus points would be enough to keep them in Division Two.

Haywards Heath had to play for a win to boost their chances for promotion. After winning the toss for Chichester, Matt Geffen invited the visitors to bat first.

Haywards Heath’s innings Bognor had a fine campaign but missed out on promotion to the premier division on the final day

was built around a century for Jonny Phelps, who continued his run of making big scores against the hosts. The eighth wicket partnership of Ben Van Rensburg (26 not out) and Jonathan Young (32 not out) pushed the total to 241 for 7. An intimidating total, crucially though Chichester picked up the six points they needed to ensure survival.

Perhaps knowing they were safe for another year, Chichester’s top order didn’t cover themselves in glory as they slumped to 20 for 4. A solid middle order partnership between the

Futcher brothers, Charlie (73) and Will (30), avoided the game becoming a total blow out. When the brothers departed, the lower order folded quickly and Chichester were bowled out for 158.

With all the results in, it was promotion for Haywards Heath and safety for Chichester. A seventh place finish mirrored their result from last year. On their day Chichester were capable of beating anyone, however, inconsistency once again proved their undoing in several games. Plenty to work on over the winter if the men

from Goodwood want to push up the table in 2020. Middleton travelled to Mayfield for their last game of the season. Middleton on winning the toss put Mayfield in to bat.

Middleton took early wickets with off spinner Jack Carson taking three of the first four to fall. But from 77 for 4 a partnership of 88 between Sri Lankan International Kaushal Silva and Steve Harman saw Mayfield recover to 165.

The reintroduction of Russell Talman into the attack saw Harman depart in his first over for LBW for 34. Matt Reynolds then added two wickets in one over both bowled to leave Mayfield once again struggling on 170for 7.

Harry Hovey then had Silva caught at deep long on by Mahesh Rawat off for 90 and then bowled Jacob Buttifant in his next over, the final wicket to go down with Mayfield on 205.

In reply Middleton found themselves 40 for 4. Another 5th wicket partnership this time of 98 between Mahesh Rawat and Jack Carson rallied Middleton to 138 before Carson fell LBW for 47. However an unbroken partnership of 71 between Rawat (80) and Matt Reynolds (26) took Middleton to victory in the 36th over.

On the way to victory Rawat became the first player in the Premier league this season to reach 1000 league runs. His total of 1041 surpassing the 1019 he scored in the 2018 season.

His runs came from 16 innings at an average of 148.

Middleton had the distinction of having the top two run scorers in the league this year with captain Sean Heather having a fantastic season with the bat ending with 841.

Russell Talman with 25 and Matt Reynolds 21 were Middleton’s leading wicket takers. The win saw Middleton finish 4th , their best position since returning to the premier