Green shoots in Nomads draw

Sussex Premier League Champions Preston Nomads failed to win for the first time this season when they were held to a draw by Haywards Heath on Saturday.

Despite this, they head the table by seven points from Eastbourne who won by 21 runs at home to Horsham.

Brighton and Hove lie in third place with no chance to add to their points over the weekend since they had no fixture though the former league leaders will be back in action on Saturday against Lewes Priory. Cuckfield and East Grinstead enjoyed wins against the Priory and Three Bridges respectively and now have two wins to their name.

Jeremy Green who was Nomads leading run scorer last year making 641 runs at 45.8 hit another 64 while Kashif Ibrahim made an unbeaten 50 and Carl Simon 46 not out as Preston Nomads reached 255 for seven declared after being put in by Haywards Heath for whom Aussie Scott Sharma took 4-29.

The last Haywards Heath pair hung on for 26 balls to earn a draw at 180 for nine of which Hayden James hit 70 and Stuart Faith 63 as Kashif Ibrahim took 4-41.

There was a low scoring game at the Saffrons where Eastbourne made 142 all out with 50 from Martin Garnett. Auckland left-arm pace bowler Michael Bates took 7-33 in 15 overs.

Horsham were then dismissed for 121 as Sussex bowlers Ollie Rayner took 5-46 and Tom Smith 3-31. Top scorer for Horsham was Paul Gallagher with 37.

East Grinstead sent Three Bridges tumbling to 126 all out after putting them in as Duncan Shoebridge grabbed 6-42 in 20 overs. Mark Newell opened the batting for Bridges and was last out for 77.

South Australian State player Cullen Bailey hit 57 not out as Grinstead won by six wickets at 127 for four, Paul Smith taking 3-31.

Cuckfield rattles up 259 for five declared at home to Lewes Priory after being put in as Jason Oates hit 97 and Cameron Mirza made 66 and Simon Allen taking 3-74. Lewes Priory then tumbled to 117 all out as Nick Paterson took 5-30.