CRICKET: Scowen Hits Ton, Priory Go Top
7 June: Hastings & St Leonards Priory 167; West Chiltington & Thakeham 58 for 4 (rained off)
14 June: Worthing 195; Priory 197 for 2
HUGH SULLIVAN
Only three points separate the top three teams in Division 2 of the Sussex Cricket League after last Saturday’s round of matches – but Hastings & St Leonards Priory now head the table after a comprehensive home victory over Worthing. Captain Harry Scowen put his inconsistent start to the season behind him, smiting 19 fours and a six in an unbeaten innings of 119 not out scored at more than a run a ball as his team raced to their target of 196 for the loss of only two wickets.
Harry Scowen – first century of the season
Priory had completed the double over their West Sussex opponents when both teams were playing in the Premier Division last season, and from the beginning of this match, when Scowen won the toss and opted to field first, they always seemed likely to maintain their supremacy.
It was a good toss to win, in truth, after heavy overnight rain had dampened the pitch. Priory’s opening seamers John Morgan and Sachi Mahendran were kept at bay, but at the cost of a slow scoring rate. Change bowlers Adam Page, Charlie Francis, Shawn Johnson and Iden McCleave all bowled economically, and after 44 overs Worthing had just 148 runs on the scoreboard with eight wickets still in hand.
That left a maximum of nine overs for the rest of the batsmen to swing their bats in an effort to raise the tempo. Instead, Page (finishing with five wickets for 64, including two stumpings by wicket-keeper Greg Devlin) and Johnson (three for 17) ran through their middle and late order batting, and they were bowled out for 195, leaving Priory 47 overs to overhaul them.
Opener Caleb Laloo was run out early on and in-form Ryan Hoadley was also dispatched cheaply. But by that time Scowen was already well on his way, and he was given excellent support by Johnson (58 not out off 54 balls) in an unbroken partnership of 145 runs as Priory cantered to victory with more than 13 overs to spare.
RAIN CHECK
The previous Saturday, 7 June, Priory made the long journey to Pulborough to play West Chiltington & Thakeham. The home team are a force to be reckoned with in this division and, after sending their visitors in to bat first in a 45-over match, bowled them out for a total of 167 in the 42nd over. Although Scowen lasted only seven balls, a second wicket partnership between Hoadley (44) and McCleave (also 44) had seemed to put the innings on a secure foundation, but after the latter’s dismissal, wickets tumbled. Only Eddie Finch (20) and Morgan (24 not out) reached double figures.
Priory hit back quickly in the field, Morgan recalling vintage spells of the past as he took three wickets – two bowled, one lbw – in his first three overs. With significant rain expected, it was always unlikely that there would be time for either side to win, and so it proved. The Pulborough side had reached 58 for four off 14 overs when the game was called off. Four out of five matches in the division suffered similar abandonment, including that of current leaders Eastbourne playing up the road at Horsham against Roffey 2nd XI, so little ground was lost.
Tomorrow (Saturday) Priory in turn travel to Roffey, while on 28 June they will host Eastbourne, who are still unbeaten after six games, in a top-of-the table contest at Horntye.
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