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Pagham v Arundel

Shares are spoiled as batsmen reign

A true captain’s innings from Richard James salvaged a draw for Arundel at Nyetimber Lane and frustrated Pagham, who failed to capitalise after posting their highest score of the season.

James made a gritty 74 not out, facing 125 balls and dealing almost exclusively in boundaries as Pagham’s bowling attack toiled to take wickets on a excellent batting track.

Earlier, Will Rolls (87) had set the hosts on their way to a total of 242 for six after Arundel won the toss and elected to field.

Rolls looked well set to go on and make a century until he was clean bowled by Ryan Chitty, with Pagham in a healthy position at 145 for three. On a day of family partnerships for the visitors, Ryan and father Neil Chitty bowled well to contain Pagham’s middle order, and the pair combined to dismiss Andrew Seer (39) when Neil took a simple catch off Ryan’s bowling.

However, Craig Primmer (25*) and Dave Galea played with more freedom, Galea making an attractive 38 as the pair put on 66 for the fifth wicket.

Primmer struck a huge six over the pavilion before Ian Dabinett-Jays (3-74) broke the partnership with Ryan Chitty returning figures of three for 88 from his 19 overs.

The Arundel run chase started disastrously as Ryan Chitty and Rohan Ardley departed with the score on one but Richard James joined son Bradley James at the crease and the pair halted the slide.

With the scoring rate slow, Arundel’s chances of winning all but vanished but by the time that Joe Metz bowled Bradley for 32 only 20 overs remained with Pagham still seven wickets from victory.

When Primmer dismissed Gareth Bricknell (10) soon after, there appeared to be a glimmer of hope, but it was soon extinguished as James and Mark Barry made a fifth-wicket stand of 79.

Indeed, Barry, who smashed 46 off just 29 deliveries, forced Pagham captain Stuart Rutter to abandon his attacking fields as the visitors threatened to make a late bid for victory.

In the end though, the game petered out and reached its inevitable conclusion with Arundel one short of 200 and a fifth batting point.

Pagham, who collected 13 points, remain seventh but their skipper was happy with his side’s display.

Rutter said: “It was a great team performance with both bat and ball.

“Everyone pitched in and took responsibility so I’m very happy.

“ I think the wicket beat us today, it’s such a good surface to bat on – almost 450 runs scored shows that. It was a bit disappointing but we batted very well and just didn’t get the luck we needed to take the wickets.

“The opener played and missed quite a lot, we just needed him to nick one and we’d have been in. Their captain batted brilliantly though so you’ve got to hand it to him”.

STEVE TERVET

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