Last pair rescue Middleton... Bognor go so close

Read the latest reports from division two of the Sussex League here.

Ansty v Middleton

Sussex League division two

There was rain in the air and a shower before the start meant batting first – as Middleton were asked to do – was not going to be easy.

Ansty’s Aussie left-arm opening bowler Jake Wilson began the day as leading wicket taker in the league with 18 wickets from three games.

With the score on 23, opener Will Burrows was first to fall, edging Jethro Menzies to slip for 15. The Middleton middle order struggled against a good spell of bowling and wickets feel regularly. Only opener Will Affleck managed to hold in there, batting 91 balls for a patient 33. When he fell the score was 71-7.

Two further wickets with the addition of only 16 runs saw Middleton on 87-9 before No11 Tommy Davies joined Craig Fowle who was on 16. The pair put on 75 to take the Middleton score to 162 off 51.5 overs.

Both were unlucky not to reach 50 with Fowle ending 41 not out off 70 balls and Davies last man out for 46 off 56 balls including six fours and a six. Wilson finished with 2-60 and Menzies 7-42.

In reply Ansty did not find batting any easier but the sun came out. Matt Cooke had opener James Whybrow caught by Sean Heather with a diving catch at slip. Davies then removed opener Sam Palser lbw for 17 with the score on 43.

Ansty rallied and at 82 for 2 it looked theirs to lose. But Fowle and Matt Reynolds were introduced and Reynolds immediately removed the dangerous Luca Barker for 34.

Regular wickets fell and Ansty were all out for 117. The last eight wickets fell for just 35 runs.

Pick of the bowlers were Fowle (4-22 off 12 overs) and Cooke and Reynolds with two apiece. Middleton held on to seven catches with one taken by Monty Morgan at deep fine leg probably the best of the bunch.