Roffey beat Cuckfield to go top despite 'complacency with the bat'

Ben Manenti finished with figures of 3-48 for Roffey against Cuckfield on Saturday. All pictures by Steve Robards

The Boars bowled the hosts out for 123 in 47.2 overs as seven-wickets were shared between Luke Barnard (4-27) and Ben Manenti (3-48).

The reply saw Roffey reach the target, but they made hard work of it. The Boars struck 124 in 27.2 overs, with Theo Rivers (34) topscoring, but lost five-wickets in the chase.

Roffey’s win saw them return to the top-of-the-table after former leaders Brighton & Hove were comprehensively beaten away to the Boars’ local rivals Horsham.

Davies said: “Obviously it was pleasing to get the 30 points. I thought we bowled and fielded pretty well, particular our slower bowlers.

“It is a wicket that usually spins, so it was nice to make full use of that and keep them to a relatively low total.

“Perhaps there was some complacency with the bat, we would definitely have liked to be more clinical in the run chase.”

Supreme bowling from Roffey saw Cuckfield at 33-5 thanks to devastating spells from Barnard, Manenti, and Rohit Jagota (1-9).

Theo Rivers topscored for Roffey as he made 34

Gregory Wisdom (seven) was taken by Jagota at 21-1 before the Boars ripped through Cuckfield’s top-order, taking four more wickets for the loss of 12-runs.

Sussex bowled out for lowest total for 12 years

The hosts’ innings was ended after two-wickets in two balls from Manenti as Roffey produced a clinical display with the ball.

The Boars reply began with the loss of the big-hitting Manenti (11) to the dangerous Phil Semmens (4-30) at 23-1.

Jibran Khan (31) and Rivers added 44 at two before Khan also fell victim to the bowling of Semmens.

Rivers and then Jagota (14) were taken within five-runs of each other as Roffey spluttered to 95-4.

Chris Webb could only add two to the total before Mike Norris was run out by Wisdom after scoring a run-a-ball 21.

Luckily for the Boars they were just four-runs shy of victory when Norris lost his wicket, meaning it was left to Davies (seven*) and George Fleming (nought*) to guide Roffey home and back to first-place in the Premier Division.

The Boars host Brighton & Hove in a battle between the division’s top-two on Saturday.