Smith and Western fire on all cylinders

Aldwick v Partridge Green

Invitation League division four

Aldwick beat Partridge Green by six wickets to go top of league with outstanding individual performances from Ollie Smith (5-23) with the ball and Louis Paul (58*) as opening batsman.

The home side’s line-up was packed with quality bowlers and they bowled out the opposition for just 114.

Nabid Raham (1-22) continued his fine early-season form with 11 probing overs with good support from skipper Keelan Belcher (1-21 from ten overs).

Smith took over with his five-wicket haul with good support from John Young (2-18). Only four Green batsmen made double figures, Ian White top-scoring with 20.

The vistors made Aldwick work for their victory and at two for two must have thought an unlikely win was on the cards. On a slow strip, Dean Stokes (26) and the unbeaten Paul set up the home side’s eventual win with a slow but valuable 59-run partnership from 31 overs.

Joe Tourle (3-45) worked hard but later knocks from Keelan Belcher (17) and Adam Rutter (7*) contributed to the table-toppers win in 47.3 overs.

West Wittering v Three Bridges IV

Division six

West Wittering picked up another maximum haul of 30 points as they beat Three Bridges by 96 runs.

WW lost the toss and were put in but Mark Taylor (24) and Richard Hammond (21) produced a solid start before Hammond was trapped lbw.

Taylor was joined by Carl Tupper (37) but was dismissed shortly after, bringing James Sandford in.

Sandford (31) was a steadying influence, with others scoring around him. Mitch Hackshaw scored a quickfire 52 before being caught.

Rob Gray (12*) and Olly Lingham-Davis (15*) finished off the innings, the team reaching 208 for five off 43 overs and skipper Tupper declared.

Wittering had 51 overs to take the Three Bridges wickets and it looked like plenty when they reduced them to 21 for five after eight overs, Spike Western taking four wickets for one run and Steve Day taking the other.

Captain Mike Giddins (31) provided the backbone for the visitors batting out the majority of the innings before Western completed another five-wicket haul with one caught off the glove by Tupper.

Tupper took another sharp one in the slips off Alex Salmon (1-12). Tim Osborne (1-11) added another wicket to his tally with some intelligent bowling but Western finished with seven for 14, helping Wittering bowl out Three Bridges for 112.

Billingshurst III v Aldwick II

Division eight

First-teamer Rob Woodman made an appearance for the home side’s third team and showed his class with an unbeaten 110 after being dropped on nought.

With good support from Jon Alexander (42), Billingshurst posted a healthy 216 for seven. Aldwick’s opening bowling pair Andy Atkins (1-25) and Andy Burtenshaw (1-24) kept it tight and did not allow the home side to post a massive total.

Danish Jaalali bagged a couple of wickets and David Robinson (1-54) bowled a steady ten overs.

Aldwick openers Arthur Bradbury and David Robinson were both back in the pavilion with only five runs on the board. No3 Andy Burthenshaw (52) staged a fightback but could not find any other batsmen to support him other than Adam Robinson’s useful 16 at the end.

Jon Alexander took three for five from four overs. Aldwick were all out for 123, losing by 96 runs, but still top the division.