Cricket preview: Priory & Crowhurst Park

They began their pursuit of a top three finish in the Premier Division of the Sussex Cricket League with a resounding victory at Chichester Priory Park last weekend, thanks in no small part to a sparkling unbeaten 151 from winter signing Matt Machan.

Priory will be looking to chalk up another win tomorrow (Saturday) at home to a newly-promoted Roffey side which pulled off a notable five-wicket triumph over East Grinstead in its opening game.

Priory captain Adam Maharaj-Newman said: “I don’t know if we’ve ever played them before, but apparently they played quite well (against Grinstead) so it will be a good challenge for us.”

Horntye Park Sports Complex-based Priory expect to be close to full strength for a match which will start at 12.30pm and South African overseas player Kirk Wernars is likely to make his league debut.

Priory will be back in action on Sunday when they travel to Bickley Park in round one of the ECB National Club Championship. Chislehurst-based Bickley came sixth in the Kent Premier Division last year.

Crowhurst Park, meanwhile, have already proved that they haven’t joined the Sussex Cricket League just to make up the numbers.

Their captain Victor Walcott said before the start of the season that they intend to be among the Division Three (East) frontrunners and they began in the best possible way with a 96-run victory over Uckfield Anderida.

Walcott said: “We couldn’t have hoped for a better start. It was a good performance and the guys were very happy to start off the season in such a positive manner.”

Park will be gunning to make it two wins out of two tomorrow when they travel to an Ansty side which lost its first game at home to Lindfield by 89 runs.

The full articles can be viewed in today’s Hastings Observer.