CLAPP BREAKS CLUB RECORD

DOMINIC CLAPP became the first Englishman, let alone the first home-grown player, to score four Sussex League hundreds in a season for Worthing CC when his 121 not out at home to East Grinstead on Saturday exceeded the three centuries Australian star Ben Cameron complied in 2001.

This innings needed industry on a bowler's track. However, despite this obvious boost, plus important contributions down the order from Dave Marshallsay and John Kaye, Worthing, despite having five wickets in hand, ended one run short of East Grinstead's 229 all out. But the medium pace of Stuart Simmonds and finally Alex Edwards in the last two overs frustrated Clapp and skipper Andy Lutwyche.

Edwards denied them the 10 runs they needed off the last six balls. Worthing entered the last three overs needing 27.

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Worthing's left-arm spinner Ben Shelford, nicknamed Bumpy, had taken five for 55 on a helpful wicket but Paul Turk reached 72 for Grinstead having escaped on nought when a false shot off Lutwyche dropped agonisingly short of Steve Pearse at mid-off.

Clapp finished on 809 league runs at an average of 57.79 but his five single-figure scores prevented his keeping pace with Michael Bright, Horsham's Australian, or the 1,082 runs with which Cameron set the current league record.

More details in Worthing Herald on September 11.