Haywards Heath, Lindfield and Cuckfield dominate cricket second tier

It’s a Mid Sussex 1-2-3 in division two of the Sussex Cricket League as Haywards Heath, Lindfield and Cuckfield lead the way.

Cuckfield v Findon

Cuckfield won easily when they hosted newly promoted Findon. Cuckfield won the toss and elected to bat. Openers Joe Cambridge and Nipun Karunanayake took the score to 79 off 15 overs before Nipun clipped Drew Hammersley to deep square leg for 30.

Dom Sear (17) and Cambridge (62) fell in quick succession to leave Cuckfield 128-3.

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The scoring slowed considerably with Dan Turner and Charlie Douglas-Hughes succumbing trying to push up the rate. But skipper Ben Candfield and Ollie Graham wrestled back control and Candfield’s 27-ball 45 included two big sixes, while Graham finished on 53 off 52.

Cuckfield finished on 240 on a pitch that had begun to show signs of spin.

The hosts started with spin from both ends as Douglas-Hughes and Josh Hayward set about trying to squeeze the batsmen.

Douglas-Hughes removed Bradley Bridson and Matthew Glover to leave Findon 18-2.

Hayward removed Archie Cairns for 0 after bowling four consecutive maidens.

Fit-again Nick Patterson took two wickets and Cuckfield’s spin heavy attack continued to take wickets at regular interval, leaving Findon all out for 98 as Hayward finished with 3-8 and Patterson with 2-27.

Haywards Heath v Burgess Hill

Heath continued their impressive start to the season in the local derby v Burgess Hill at Clair Park.

Heath won the toss and stand-in skipper Jonny Phelps elected to bat.

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Phelps and Jethro Menzies batted beautifully. Phelps was in imperious form racing to 86 off 50 balls with 11 fours and four maximums.

At 117 for 0 in 14 overs Heath looked likely to score 300 but Sam Remfry bowled a beauty to Phelps to remove him.

Ben Matthew was trapped for 20 by Remfry and James Caddick was bowled by Joe Maskell. Chris Blunt struck 22 but was bowled by Lewis Mamoany when trying to up the pace.

Jethro Menzies was bowled by Maskell for 89 having built a well-paced innings. Hill started to take regular wickets to in the end restrict Heath to 277 in 44.3 overs. Joe Maskell finished with impressive figures of 6 for 39.