Crook stars as Arundel move into pole position

With previous leaders Southwater not in action owing to their free week, Arundel took full advantage as they cruised to a 201-run win at West Chiltington to move 16 points clear at the top of Ram, who moved up to second place.

Arundel were put into bat after losing the toss and captain Joe Bain was out for one with just 15 runs on the board.

Crook added 72 for the second wicket with Kieran Hornsby (18), before he put on 101 for the third wicket with Lloyd Rowlatt and then an unbroken stand of 104 with Mark Barry.

Crook smashed his unbeaten 159 from just 152 deliveries and it included 24 fours and four sixes.

Rowlatt hit eight fours as he struck 52 from 65 balls and Barry’s 55 not out came from only 25 deliveries, with four fours and four sixes.

Arundel made immediate inroads into the West Chiltington batting order as Nathan Smart bowled Charlie Reeves for one, with just three on the scoreboard.

James Chaloner became Smart’s second wicket when he was caught by Crook for seven with the score on 12.

Tim Jarvis (27) and Eddie Miller (ten) shared a 34-run third-wicket stand but wickets then fell at regular intervals.

Only Iain Haggart, with 21, provided any real resistance down the order as West Chiltington were all out for 92 in 27.4 overs.

Left-arm spinner Neil Chitty led the way with the ball for Arundel as he took 5-10 from 7.4 overs, which included four maidens. He now has 24 wickets for the season – the most in the division.

Smart finished with 2-12 from four overs, Hornsby claimed 2-48 off six overs and Jacob Temple picked up 1-13 from eight overs.

Arundel entertain St Andrews on Saturday, while Southwater, who are now third, return to action with a trip to East Preston.

Second-placed Ram travel to fourth-placed Littlehampton.