10:00am Tuesday 30th June 2009
By Bruce Talbot
An unbeaten partnership between Graham Billington (57 not out) and Stuart Simmonds (36 not out) helped steer East Grinstead III to a seven-wicket victory at Preston Nomads III and to the top of division one in the Mid Sussex League. Nomads head earlier posted 148 all out with Owen Kernan making 51 as Simmonds took 3-35 and Taylor Bradley held three catches behind the stumps.
Crawley Down moved into second place after they restricted struggling Roffey III to 69 all out with Steve Ward (4-16) and Stuart Gopwen (3-14) the pick of the bowlers. Gowen then made 67 not out to secure a five-wicket win for the visitors.
Staplefield cruised to an eight-wicket victory over Hartfield after dismissing their visitors for 133 as Chris Keeler (3-34) and Charlie Cooper (3-42) did the damage. Kevin Middle (52 not out) and Steve Barker (45 not out) took the hosts to an eight-wicket triumph.
Previous leaders St Francis were without a match and slipped into fourth while Streat climbed to fifth after reeling in Cuckfield III's 176-9 which owed much to good knocks by Colin Emery (74) and Laurence Wisdom (60). Ravi Kumar bagged 6-36 for Streat, who had Julian Hunt (70 not out) in form with the bat in the successful chase.
Smallfield hung on for a draw at 124-9 against Edenbridge despite Andy Hill taking 7-43. The visitors had earlier put on 189 as Luke Gregori (4-28) and Tom Matthews (3-45) made inroads.
Poynings beat Horsted Keynes by four wickets after reeling in their 161-9 target (Dave Lancaster 61 not out) with Andy Beal making 41 not out.
Adrian Ruzicka (90) top scored in their 247-8 but Dormansland closed on 220-7 as Steve Loney (68) led their reply.
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