CRICKET: Local Bragging Rights Maintained
29 July: Crowhurst Park 102; Hastings Priory 103 for 5
Hastings Priory completed their third successive victory over local rivals Crowhurst this summer, when winning by five wickets in their Sussex Cricket League encounter on 29 July. In an early season T20 encounter Priory had overhauled a score of 140 with four wickets to spare; in June, under limited over rules, Crowhurst had managed 162, but Priory got them with seven wickets outstanding. This time, in a traditional-format 100-over game, Crowhurst were bowled out for 102 in the 38th and Priory’s batsmen, despite a mini-collapse, won comfortably by five wickets.
From the start, Priory asserted their dominance on a damp pitch, as Satchi Mahendran bowled out Crowhurst’s top batsman Jordan Shaw, and Adam Barton dispatched fellow-opener Toby Burdekin likewise. From 12 for two, Crowhurst’s third wicket pair, Tom Powell (30) and Bradley Payne (20) batted solidly in a partnership of 47. But John Morgan joined the attack to dismiss both, and only Nick Peters (20 before being run out) offered much resistance in the late order. Morgan finished with four for 27.
Priory were without their leading scorer, Harry Scowen, but captain Tom Gillespie (35) and Dylan Woolley (24), under no time pressure, shared a careful opening stand of 67 to put victory within sight. An aggressive spell of fast bowling by Shaw had Priory’s middle order batsmen ducking and weaving from short pitch deliveries. He claimed three quick wickets, and Peters, with some gentle spin, took two. Then Harvey Faulkner provided a smart cameo, with three reverse sweeps off successive balls from Peters, to get his side over the line.
Last Saturday all league games were abandoned without a ball bowled as rain and wind took their toll. That leaves four more games to play, all under limited-over rules. Back in third place, Priory will travel to their Chichester Priory Park namesakes tomorrow (Saturday), then have fixtures against the top two, West Chiltington and Worthing, over succeeding weeks. The results of these should determine whether the Hastings side can gain their season’s aim – promotion back to the Sussex Premier. Crowhurst, meanwhile, also have games against the top two amongst their four outstanding fixtures – so, ironically, could help their local rivals along the way.
Sussex Cricket League standings – top five
| Team | P | W | D | L | T | A B | AT | PTS | BOWL |
| Worthing | 14 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 9 | 12 | 306 |
| W.Chiltington | 14 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 30 | 9 | 279 |
| Hastings Priory | 14 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20 | 33 | 263 |
| Buxted Park | 14 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 26 | 48 | 254 |
| Haywards Heath | 14 | 5 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 35 | 36 | 251 |
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