He took eight wickets for 55 runs, including three in the last over and the last two in consecutive deliveries to bring up victory by 17 runs.

After he bowled 16.5 overs, the most by any bowler, and having opened the attack, he drew the fullest praise from skipper Andy Stillwell. He said: "To get those figures in such heat, on a Steyning wicket that's so hard and good to bat on after two weeks of sun, is an absolutely outstanding performance. He's now got 13 wickets in our first two games.

"We'd scored only 206, where 200 had been the minumum and we thought 230 had been required, so we needed to bowl well with the new ball. And we played better with the ball than we did the week before. Simmo got out their top four which was also the result of pressure put on the batsmen by the bowlers keeping tight at the other end. And then he later reaped the just rewards of having bowled for so long in the conditions.

"Ian's quiet and determined. He's medium pace but he bowls up the hill for us and swings it away for the bat and bowls great line and length. He took more than 30 Premier Division wickets last season and that was the highlight of a relegation year for us. So we are very pleased to have kept him. He will be one of the best bowlers in our division.

"Pulborough had got their heads down after Simmo had got them at 70 for four and then we were struggling. But then we got a vital run-out."
The 6ft 4in Ben Buckley here became the other winning factor for Steyning. His extra reach, at point, off Andy Isaacs' bowling, meant he stopped and threw back to Matt Sewell for the run-out that removed David Castle and checked Pulborough back at 137 for five.

Later, with Pulborough nevertheless having gone into the last six overs with 30 runs wanted, and five wickets in hand, Buckley held a low catch at gully that broke through and made them 185 for six.

Simpson did the rest and his role in victory overshadowed the fine, unbeaten 91 off 120 balls with which Gary Hunt, similarly in the heat of the day, anchored the Steyning winnings after Stillwell had chosen to bat. He and Matt Sewell put on 67 for the third wicket but few others stayed long enough with Hunt to allow him to open up properly and maybe make the hundred.

That man Simpson, though, as iff to acclimatise himself for later, joined him with an unbeaten 25 in an unbroken seventh-wicket stand of 66 that made possible Steyning's barely defendable total. That vital time spent in the middle, contributing, only enhanced the overall performance by Simpson on the day.

Now Steyning go to Roffey this Saturday and have vice-captain Tim Trowbridge returning with Owen Jones to create a pleasant selection problem. Roffey lost for a second time on Saturday but scored 280 for nine.

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