CRICKET: Local round-up (May 13)

Littlehampton won at Slinfold in their opening game of the season by three wickets in Sussex League Division 3 West, after they failed to pick up a victory all last year in Division 2.

They got the win thanks to Luke Vinter's seven-wicket haul and James Askew's 64 not out.

Littlehampton won the toss and put Slinfold into bat. They made runs early through Guy Thorn (42) and Jonathon Augustus (25), while Graham Marsh added 22 more, but Vinter's 7-31 and Challen's 2-32 helped to rip through the lower order and dismiss them for 135 in 42.3 overs.

Challen said: "It was a good toss to win but at 90-2, I thought we'd be looking at a total of around 200 to chase.

"I brought myself and Luke back on and we cleaned them up for not too many more. It was a top effort really."

In their response, Littlehampton started well as opener Askew's innings-long performance of 64 not out was contributed to by Graham Blann's 18 and Challen's 32.

Things did look as though they were swinging in Slinfold's favour though as Littlehampton lost five wickets for just 14 runs, although Askew stood strong and Ryan Budd chipped in with five not out to see them home.

Challen added: "We were 90 for just one wicket down and I thought we would win it quite comfortably. After losing a lot of games last season, our confidence wasn't that high so it's good to get a win."

East Preston's match against Wisborough Green in Division 1 of the Invitation League ended in a draw after miserable weather hindered most of the days' play and bad light affected the batsmen towards the end.

EP put Wisborough in, and they started well, taking two wickets early on. Ed Bowes (31) added to the score before he retired hurt, eventually needing 10 stitches below his chin, while Tim Monday (108) helped Wisborough to 238-6 and they declared after 43.3 overs.

Gareth Bunday led the attack with 3-46, and John Harris took 2-64.

In response, Tim Miles started well with 35, while Colin Smith hit 58 from 76 balls, with 12 fours.

They then started to lose wickets quickly and went from 102-2 to 127-8, which is where it finished after 40 overs.

EP captain Andy Reeves said: "We finally finished about 8.25pm and it was very hard to see. I did wonder why we were still out, but we didn't really deserve much more out of it.

"With a full-strength side, it would have been one we were looking to win, but there was a basketball tournament on, which Jack Sunderland, Tom Chamberlain and Joe Carter were all missing for."

Clymping hung on for seven overs with just their last wicket intact on Saturday to earn a draw with Broadwater in the same division.

Broadwater's Graham Waller (79) and James Iago (95) helped them onto 225-7 where they declared after 43.4 overs.

Stuart Murray and Richard Waddington took two wickets for 47 and 50 runs respectively in Clymping's attack.

Andy Wilkinson (49) and Chris Green (46) got the majority of Clymping's runs, while Karl Pierce added 29, but their final pair, Adam Foster and Paul Challen, managed to hang on for the final seven overs, finishing on 177-9.

Rustington beat Lancing Manor in Division 4 by 137 runs after an impressive performance with both bat and ball.

Rustington, who were inserted, found themselves struggling at 29-3, before Grant Melvin and Matt Cousins (44) put on a partnership of 37.

Adam Taylor then smashed 75 to help take Rustington to 210 all out.

Rustington's opening bowlers Simon Gosden (3-30) and David Mangold (6-38) then ripped through the Manor attack, before Grant Melvin took the final wicket as Manor slumped to 73 all out after 22.3 overs.

Arundel won their Sussex League Division 3 West match against Bognor by 12 runs.

Arundel hit 195 all out after 47.5 overs, with 71 from Rohan Ardley, before Bognor were all out for 183.

-------------------------------------

Click here to go back to Worthing sport.

Click here to return to Gazette sport.

Click here to go back to Shoreham sport.

Where are you? Add your pin to the Herald's international readers' map by clicking here.

Email the Herald: [email protected]