Cricket: Captain's innings carries Chichester to win over Brighton

On a slightly damp wicket, Bamford was surprised to find his team fielding having lost the toss as he would have elected to field.

Brighton made a relatively good start before they lost their first wicket for 25 in difficult conditions thanks to the bowling of Matt Geffen (3-40) and Daniel Joseph.

Wickets were lost fairly frequently from that point as James Stedman and Richard Browning produced miserly spells.

However, Michael Rippon started to bat with fluency at number five. Rippon survived a caught-behind appeal on nought and exploited this profitably as he reached 55.

Rippon received relatively-good support and his side reached 158 before they were bowled out.

Richard Browning was the pick of the bowlers returning figures of three for 21 to continue his excellent start to the season.

Chichester might have thought that they had let the visitors get 20 or 30 too many and this was compounded when they lost their first wicket with the first ball.

This brought Bamford to the crease and he and Adam Zampa soon settled. Zampa played some excellent shots on his way to 35 before he was stumped off Sussex spinner Rippon (1-45) with the score at 68.

A week earlier, Chichester had been in a similar position and ended up losing six wickets for just nine runs - and lost the game as a result.

Bamford was determined his team would not capitulate once more.

His fine innings of 74 not out steered them to victory and included 12 fours and one huge six that smashed into the top of the Priory building.

Bamford had excellent support from Justin Scott. The big man from Bognor joined Bamford with the score at 129 for five and played positively to help see his team home.

Chichester travel to Roffey on Saturday confident they can continue their solid start to the season.