Invitation League: Pagham eye top spot

While Lindfield were beating promoted Ansty by 55 runs in a low-scoring Mid Sussex derby, Pagham were continuing their excellent start to the season with a 49 run win over Goring which moved them into second place.

Lindfield have a five point lead, but they have no match next weekend so Pagham could overhaul them with victory at home to Crawley.

Australian Adam Walsh was Pagham's hero, taking 7-75 bowling first change as Goring were bowled out for 201 chasing their visitors' formidable 250-3.

Walsh, who has long standing connections with the club, is in this country visiting relatives for the summer and is firing on all cylinders after recovering from an early season side strain.

He's no slouch with the bat either, making an unbeaten 61 to augment the contributions of Mark Hoare (67 not out) and Sean Dobbs.

Pagham team secretary Phil Leaver says an influx of new players, including the return of his son David as captain, has helped transform the team.

"David came back, we are a lot better organised and basically we've embarked on a recruitment exercise that seems to be paying dividends so far," said Leaver.

"We've got five new players in and the team spirit is very good. Someone at the club wondered what the odds were on a side going from bottom to top in a season and I suppose they must be quite high, but we'll just be happy to consolidate."

Lindfield looked poised to post a commanding total on the Common when they reached 90-1 against Ansty with opener Keith Chamberlain going well.

Chamberlain finished 65 not out, but the last nine Lindfield wickets tumbled for 45 runs as they were bowled out for 135. Principal support came from Graham Page (33).

Ansty's hopes weren't helped when opener Richard Nichols had to retire hurt early in his innings through injury. They reached 30-1, but then first change seamer Steve Pearce caused havoc, taking 4-7 in a nine over spell which helped reduced the visitors to 59-9. There was some tail-end resistance, but Ansty were eventually bowled out for 80.

Page said: "There was nothing wrong with the wicket. Both sides got decent starts but the bowling was also very good.

"It is disappointing that we are not playing next week because we're on a decent roll, but it is Village Day and it happens every year at this time."

Ifield are third after skipper Graeme Dean and Stuart Hickey eased them to a six wicket win at home to East Preston.

Dean made 80 not out and Hickey 56 as the home side reached 172-4 replying to EP's 171-9. C.Smith made 57 for the visitors.

Eastergate are fourth, a point behind Ifield, despite losing by six wickets at Clymping. Ben Challen's unbeaten 79 guided Clymping to victory after the visitors had made 173-8 from 49 overs.

Southwick's Steve Martin produced an all-round performance to match Pagham's Australian in their seven wicket home win over fading Findon who are struggling to recapture the glories of their title win last season.

Martin took 6-34 as Findon made 183-9 and then made 84 as the home side got home by seven wickets.

The other games were drawn. Ian Poole's 50 was the highlight as Keymer & Hassocks made 190-8 before restricting Crawley's reply to 169-8.

Barns Green tottered to 116-8 in reply to Arundel's 158 all out. Nick Woodward made 63 for Green while the home side's Neil Mustard finished with 5-27.

At Petworth Park, G.Nooan's 5-47 restricted the home side to 154-9. Henfield finished on 124-7 with Richard Whitcombe making 62.

Billingshurst squeezed home by six runs at Storrington to open up a six point lead in Division Two.

They made 152, despite Pete Smith's 5-56, and then bowled out the hosts for 146.

Pulborough, who have a game in hand on the leaders, are second after defeating St Andrews by 62 runs at home.

They scored 188 all out and then Saints were destroyed by James Peake who took 8-23 as the visitors were bowled out for 126.

Selsey are third despite losing a high-scoring game by two wickets at home to Slinfold.

Tim Benham made 66 and Nick Nolan and unbeaten 67 in their 226-4, but the visitors got home thanks to 98 from S.Gilkington and A.Haines' 52.

Wisborough Green beat Rustington by 122 runs after bowling out the home side for just 72. New ball pair Tom Jenkins (5-28) and George Stoy (5-42) shared the wickets after sixty-something batsman Joe Cooper had made an unbeaten 73 in Wisborough's 194.

In a low scoring contest, Angering Manor rushed out Horsham Trinity for 68 and then cruised to a nine wicket win.

The other games ended in draws. P.Roberts and S.Turner both made half-centuries in Ardingly's 231-4 and visitors Portslade finished just short of their target on 228-9 with Mick Cahill taking 6-65 for Ardingly.

Broadbridge Heath hung on for a draw at home to South Bersted & Bognor, finishing on 91-9 after the combined outfit had earlier been bowled out for 194, S. Crundwell getting 85.

Eastergate are fourth, a point behind Ifield, despite losing by six wickets at Clymping. Ben Challen's unbeaten 79 guided Clymping to victory after the visitors had made 173-8 from 49 overs.

Southwick''s Steve Martin produced an all-round performance to match Pagham's Australian in their seven wicket home win over fading Findon who are struggling to recapture the glories of their title win last season.

Martin took 6-34 as Findon reached 183-9 and then made 84 as the home side got home by seven wickets. The other games were drawn. Ian Poole's 50 was the highlight as Keymer & Hassocks made 190-8 before restricting Crawley's reply to 169-8.

Barns Green tottered to 116-8 in reply to Arundel's 158 all out. Nick Woodward made 63 for Green while the home side's Neil Mustard finished with 5-27.

At Petworth Park, G.Nooan's 5-47 restricted the home side to 154-9. Henfield finished on 124-7 with Richard Whitcombe making 62.

Billingshurst squeezed home by six runs at Storrington to open up a six point lead in Division Two.

They made 152, despite Pete Smith's 5-56, and then bowled out the hosts for 146.

Pulborough, who have a game in hand on the leaders, are second after defeating St Andrews by 62 runs at home.

They scored 188 all out and then Saints were destroyed by James Peake who took 8-23 as the visitors were bowled out for 126.

Selsey are third despite losing a high-scoring game by two wickets at home to Slinfold.

Tim Benham made 66 and Nick Nolan and unbeaten 67 in their 226-4, but the visitors got home thanks to 98 from S.Gilkington and Andy Haines' 52.

Wisborough Green beat Rustington by 122 runs after bowling out the home side for just 72.

New ball pair Tom Jenkins (5-28) and George Stoy (5-42) shared the wickets after sixty-something batsman Joe Cooper had made an unbeaten 73 in Wisborough's 194.

In a low scoring contest, Angering Manor rushed out Horsham Trinity for 68 and then cruised to a nine wicket win.

The other games ended in draws. P.Roberts and S.Turner both made half-centuries in Ardingly's 231-4 and visitors Portslade finished just short of their target on 228-9 with Mick Cahill taking 6-65 for Ardingly.

Broadbridge Heath hung on for a draw at home to South Bersted & Bognor, finishing on 91-9 after the combined outfit had earlier been bowled out for 194, Simon Crundwell getting 85.