In-form Hastings chalk up another win

Hastings Priory's cricketers continued their fine form with a third victory in four games yesterday (Saturday).
Jed O'Brien picked up another five-wicket haul for Hastings Priory against Brighton & HoveJed O'Brien picked up another five-wicket haul for Hastings Priory against Brighton & Hove
Jed O'Brien picked up another five-wicket haul for Hastings Priory against Brighton & Hove

Priory recorded a comfortable six-wicket win away to Brighton & Hove to move into the Sussex Premier League's top five - a point above neighbours Bexhill having played an extra match.

Brighton won the toss and chose to bat, but were all out for 158 in 49.4 overs as Priory produced another strong display in the field. Indeed it could've been a whole lot worse for the home side without Curtis Ford's 84 because no-one else scored more than 15.

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John Morgan (17-2-52-2) and Finn Hulbert (10-2-29-3) did a good job with the new ball, and soon had Priory on top. Hulbert made the initial breakthrough by having Bryce Hounsome (8) caught by Josh Hahnel with the score 14 and Morgan dismissed the other opener, Adam Mates (5), 10 runs later.

Josh Hahnel made his highest Hastings Priory score in the victory over Brighton & HoveJosh Hahnel made his highest Hastings Priory score in the victory over Brighton & Hove
Josh Hahnel made his highest Hastings Priory score in the victory over Brighton & Hove

Morgan struck again with the score 43, removing Chris Grammer (5). Jed O'Brien (16.4-6-41-5) then opened his account with the wicket of Alasdair Wilson (5), leaving Brighton 48-4.Number six Paul Hardwick hung around in support of Ford until being trapped lbw by O'Brien for four off 31 balls with the score 90. O'Brien followed that by dismissing Liam Windel for a third ball duck as Brighton slumped to 90-6.

The only three Brighton batsmen other than Ford to reach double figures were numbers eight, nine and 10 as the lower order put up commendable resistance.Jack Chopping made 15 before becoming O'Brien's fourth victim with the score 110 and Simon Hetherton worked hard for 13 until being bowled by Hulbert to make it 141-8.

Hulbert also bagged the ninth wicket seven runs later, finally ending Ford's defiant 119-ball knock which included eight fours. O'Brien had the final word with the wicket of Chris Mates for 10, completing his fifth five-wicket haul of the season.

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Priory lost James Pooley with just four on the board in reply, but a magnificent second wicket partnership of 133 between Josh Hahnel and Leo Cammish put the result beyond doubt.Hahnel eventually departed for 77 off 107 balls with 11 fours and a six - his best score of the season. Cammish - back at the club after nearly two years away - was third man out with the score 148, caught off Liam Windel for 60 off 106 deliveries with nine boundaries.

Harry Scowen became Windel's third victim for a golden duck, but the in-form Elliot Hooper (11 not out) - who now hasn't been dismissed in three innings and has scored nearly 250 runs in his last four - helped steer Priory home in the 40th over.

Standings (played 13 matches unless stated): 1 Roffey (12) 261pts, 2 Horsham 260, 3 Cuckfield 250, 4 East Grinstead 224, 5 HASTINGS PRIORY 222, 6 BEXHILL (12) 221, 7 Preston Nomads 197, 8 Brighton & Hove 158, 9 Billingshurst 131, 10 Worthing 104.

* Hastings Priory will host neighbours Bexhill in a Gray-Nicolls Sussex 2nd XI T20 Cup semi-final this afternoon. Play will get under way from 1pm at Horntye Park.

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