Chichester keep up the pace ... Stirlands deny the leaders

Jay Hartard has been batting well for Chi Priory park / Picture by Malcolm Lamb

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There was a fine win for Chichester as they kept pace with the division-three leaders - but Stirlands had to settle for a draw with the division-four leaders.

Here are the latest reports from the two clubs. Get involved by sending your match reports to [email protected]

Chichester Priory Park v Preston Nomads 2nds

Sussex League division three

Another home match at Goodwood marked the return to the more-familiar 100-over format and Chichester captain Johnny Heaven won the toss and, under sunny skies, elected to bowl first.

Nomads reached 51 without loss inside ten overs. The partnership was quickly broken by New Zealand overseas bowler Abz Patel, clean bowling Liam O’Brien for 23.

This triggered a collapse with Patel the destroyer in chief and very quickly they found themselves 82 for five. The Nomads innings spluttered, losing much of the early momentum because of good bowling by Mike Smith and Will Bateman, the former picking up two wickets.

While Preston’s batsmen struggled to post a big individual total, Abdul Shafi (29), Jason Robinson (20) and Owen Kernan (28) kept the scoreboard ticking over. Patel had the last laugh, bagging the final wicket to complete a maiden five-wicket haul for the club to finish with five for 30. Preston Nomads’ innings closed on 162 from 47 overs.

In response Chichester slumped to 17 for 2 when both openers departed cheaply. Jes Goode (20) combined well with the in-form Jay Hartard until the former was run out in a moment of miscommunication.

Hartard (52) continued his excellent start to the year with his third half-century; however, his departure triggered a familiar collapse from the hosts.

When Heaven chipped the ball into the air for a third-ball duck, Chichester looked a long way from victory at 124 for seven.