WILL ADKIN hailed Lewis Hatchett after his devastating 7-29 haul helped East Grinstead to a 13-run win over Preston Nomads in the Sussex Cricket League.

Reigning champions Grinstead looked in deep trouble as wicket fells regularly but a determined 52 from Ollie Graham helped them to a below par 123.

Navish Patel, Blair Tickner, Adam O’Brien and Kashif Ibrahim all took two wickets apiece for Nomads.

Former Sussex seamer Hatchett then took centre stage, though, as he tore through the visitors’ order to finish with 9.5-0-29-7.

Adkin told The Argus: “Lewis bowled fantastically - very, very well.

“I think it helps Lewis that he’s only bowling once a week now rather than every other day like when he was at Sussex.

“That helps his body and he can keep a lid on injuries.

“He’s still left-arm seam and basically on Saturday it was all landing in the right place.”

Adkin revealed the low-scoring game was not down to a track with any demons in it.

He added: “The pitch was brilliant, there was nothing wrong with it at all.

“When we batted it was a combination of good bowling and bad shot-making really.

“We were the architects of our own downfall. But when we bowled it was the same.

“We bowled really well, held all our catches, and thankfully came out on the right side.

“At 123 we knew we were about 100 short but we defended what we had got.”

Adkin admits defending their title is going to be tough this season.

He said: “We’re hoping to defend it. We always know teams like Roffey are going to be right up there - and they have got off to a really good start winning three from three - while you have to look at other clubs as well.

“Brighton are doing really well. They have got Matt Machan back, who will be a great help, and have a good team as well.

“There are a lot of good teams in the league and it’s not going to be plain sailing by any means so it’s going to be a cracking season.”

Adkin reckons he plethora of former and current Sussex players in the division is a good thing.

He said: “It makes the league standard high. It’s good to have the quality overseas players coming over with the likes of those at Nomads and Cuckfield.

“It increases the standard so that can only be a good thing.”

Brighton and Hove made it three wins from three with a 147-run victory over Middleton, who were dismissed for just 88 chasing 235-9 (Chris Fowle 3-26) as Chris Mates took 5-19.

Earlier Bryce Hounsome (53) top scored for Brighton, who are second behind Roffey.

Sussex bowler Stuart Whittingham grabbed 4-35 for Roffey as Cuckfield were dismissed for 103 with Joe Ludlow (39) their top scorer. Rohit Jagota, who took 3-17 for Roffey, hit 64 not out as a ten-wicket win was completed.

Jordan Turner rescued Eastbourne from 81-6 with a superb 118 which included 15 fours and three sixes as they posted 262-7 against Hastings.

Hastings were then rolled over for 141 despite Ryan Hoadley’s 60 in a 121-run loss with Jacob Smith taking 3-36.

Sussex’s Will Beer hit an unbeaten 56 and Michael Thornely 47 as Horsham made 210-3 to beat Ifield by seven wickets. Daniel Smith (41) top scored for Ifield.

In division two, Tom Haynes hit 102 in Billingshurst’s 235-5 before Andy Barr took 4-37 as they beat Lindfield (178 all out).

Haywards Heath eased to a six-wicket win over St James’s Montefiore, who were dismissed for 129 as Sam Rattle took 4-20. Danny Alderman hit 55 in Three Bridges’ 194-9 against Bexhill before Matt Blandford took 5-34 to set up a 39-run win.