BEN'S TON LEAVES HEATH ON THE SHELF

His 108 was his maiden hundred in Sussex League 1st XI cricket and it came, not only after his promotion to opening batsman as he had been requesting, but after he had been dropped first ball when offering a dolly. His innings addressed 167 deliveries, contained 11 boundaries, and his dismissal, third out at 186, came in the 46th of the 50 overs Worthing decided to bat.

Setting Haywards Heath 219 to win, they bowled them out for 124 to lodge their first win of the season and maximum points.

Worthing chose to bat on a wicket greener on top after Thursday's thunderstorms and which still helped the bowlers a little off the seam when Worthing came to bowl.

The Worthing analyses included five wickets for Andy Lutwyche, to follow his own unbeaten 27 in 14 minutes, and there would have ben a hat-trick for four-wicket Chris Mansell had he not hit the stumps with a no-ball.

Australian import Matt Paul's leg-spin claimed the other wicket, with an edge to David Marshallsay at slip, and the Tea Tree Gully visitor also held three excellent catches. He dived forward for one at mid-wicket off Lutwyche and went full-length at first slip off Mansell to dismiss another batsman first ball.

The Worthing bowling pleased director of cricket Lutwyche. Teenager Tom Hudson opened the attack in the injury absence of Danny Barton, who will be out for three more weeks, and Shelford himself had a couple of overs of his left-arm spin.

Another solid start from Marshallsay set a platform of 75 for No 3 John Kaye, playing his first match of the season, and the Lancastrian put on 106, making 42 in Shelford's company. Kaye hit five fours.

Paul played second string to Lutwyche, who announced his arrival with a first-ball four, added another and leathered two sixes into neighbouring Clare Hall. The windows survived.

Worthing will again be without Kaye for their home clash with rivals Littlehampton on Saturday.