Nomads too hot for Hastings

Last year’s champions Preston Nomads kept up their winning run to head the Sussex Premier League with an impressive seven wicket win at Hastings.

2008 title winners Brighton and Hove returned to winning form with a seven wicket win at Haywards Heath and currently lie second ahead of East Grinstead, who became the latest team to beat bottom club Lewes Priory.

Cuckfield are very much in contention after winning by six wickets at home to Eastbourne while Three Bridges and Horsham played out a high scoring draw.

Hastings tumbled to 29 for five after deciding to bat at Horntye Park but a sparkling 81 not out from young Adam Maharaj-Newman, who hit 11 fuors and a six, helped them to 193 for nine declared while Pepla Sandri, the Sussex young recruit from South Africa, made 42. For Nomads Carl Simon took 4-37 and Nick Hobbs 3-54.

Joe Gatting hit 47, Jeremy Green 48 and Rob Wakeford 45 not out to guide Nomads home at 194 for three, Mick Glazier taking 2-57.

Brighton and Hove skipper Patrick Spencer led his side from the front in their seven wicket win at Haywards Heath. The leg-spinner took 6-31 as Haywards Heath were dismissed for 178 of which Stuart Faith made 83 not out, Sussex aspirant Matt Wood was also in form with the ball, he took 4-56.

As Brighton cruised home at 180 for three, Matt Green made 54, Chris Grammer 38 not out and Spencer an unbeaten 35.

East Grinstead owed much to an unbeaten half century out from their number ten Duncan Shoebridge as they battled to 186 all out at home to Lewes Priory as his efforts helped the last two wickets add 78.

For Lewes, Michael Murray took 3-56 and John Aspden 3-38.

Lewes were always struggling with the bat although Richard Eborn made 42 and Aussie Simon Allan 33 in their score of 135 all out, leg-spinner Cullen Bailey took 3-54 and there were two wickets each for Craig Fowle, Lewis Hatchett and Will Atkin.

The surprise of the day was the easy win by Cuckfield at home to Eastbourne for whom the game was a second defeat of the season.

Eastbourne were dismissed for 185 of which John Snashall made 49 and Ben Brown 40 as Nick Patterson took 4-75 and Will Somerville 5-84.

Cuckfield then reached 188 for four with Kiwi Somerville hitting 69 and Marc Gardner making 64 not out. For the visitors Rag Aga took 3-47.

At Three Bridges, there was a delayed start and the umpires played the game to 100 overs rules but that did not stop Horsham racing to 285 for seven declared with 97 from New Zealander Michael Bates and 75 not out from Paul Gallagher, Aussie paceman Nathan Rowe finishing with 5-83.

In the Bridges reply of 233 for seven, Richard Webber made 68, Ian Church 55 not out and Danny Alderman 55. For Horsham, Sussex' s Will Beer took 3-27.