CRICKET: Local round-up (August 26)

They needed 11 to win from the final over and Dan Rive took them to victory with two balls to spare.

With two games to go, Littlehampton sit fourth, 31 points behind leaders Middleton, with a game in hand, and 25 points behind second-placed Goring. Pagham, whom Littlehampton host on Saturday, are third, four points ahead of Littlehampton.

Findon had scored 240-9 from their 53 overs after winning the toss. Bradley Bridson struck his second successive century, with 127 from 121 balls, with 14 fours and two sixes.

Luke Vinter took 3-46 and is still the leading Sussex League wicket-taker this year. He now has 58, one ahead of Ifield's Russell Jacob and two clear of Middleton's Brandon Hanley.

Dan Rive also grabbed 3-39 and skipper Benn Challen took 2-100 from 21 overs.

Challen then top-scored with 86 from 106 deliveries, with six fours and three sixes, as he moved on to 851 runs for the season – the third highest in the Sussex League this year.

He put on 87 for the third wicket with Chris Heberlein, who hit a run-a-ball 48, before Michael Askew, with 21, Rive, with an unbeaten 26 and Luke Vinter, with 14 not out, took Littlehampton to victory.

Challen said: "We did our bit on Saturday but Middleton and Goring won as well.

"It was a good game with Findon, which went right down to the wire and was a little bit nervy in the end."

Arundel moved off the bottom of Division 3 West with victory over Henfield, who are now bottom and in the only relegation place.

Arundel head Henfield by seven points and both teams have two games left each. Arundel host Findon on Saturday, then entertain Pagham in their final game, while Henfield are at home to Goring on Saturday and then host Findon.

On Saturday, Arundel won the toss, elected to bat, and scored 203-7 from 51 overs. Justin Murray top-scored with 68, from 121 balls, with nine fours and put on 104 for the third wicket with Geoff Stothert, who struck 52, with seven fours and one six.

Arundel then dismissed Henfield for just 91. Left-arm spinner Neil Chitty took 4-26 and Will Clark grabbed 4-38.

East Preston sealed their survival in Division 1 of the West Sussex Invitation League with a maximum-point victory over Felbridge who, at the start of the day, were still chasing the title.

The result ensures EP will not finish in the bottom two as Portslade, who are already relegated and EP face next week, have finished bottom and Clymping will finish second from bottom.

A key toss win from stand-in captain Richard Laker helped EP to their six-wicket victory and could help see them finish as high as fifth, depending on Southwick and Southwater's results if EP beat Portslade.

EP captain Andy Reeves said: "It all went quite nicely, although the weather again meant it hinged on the toss and, luckily, we won it.

"We put them in and after the first ball went for four, I thought hang on, but then things started to go better and better for us.

"We had them at 15-5 after nine overs, with some fine catches – Chris Williams took four at second slip. We eased up a bit then as Roshan Gamage came in and gave it a good whack to make 65 not out.

"They were never really confident, though, and seemed resigned to a defeat having lost the toss. Chris and Tim Miles put on 55 for the first wicket and it moved gently towards its conclusion from there. Although it took a while, we were never in any real danger."

Having been 15-5 early on, Gamage's knock rescued Felbridge and they were all out for 146 in 40.5 overs.

Mark Coskin did the damage with the ball claiming 5-61, while Tom Chamberlain took 3-23.

Miles (38) and Williams (37) got EP response off to a good start, Sam Mellor added 40, before Jack Sunderland (23 not out) saw them over the line.

Reeves added: "We were a few players short as well so it was nice to get the win. With Clymping and Portslade's game being rained off it probably wouldn't have mattered anyway, especially as there will be one side going down, but it is always nice to do things properly."

Dan Williams stole the show in East Preston 2nd XI's 212-run victory over Barns Green 2nd in Division 8.

The result seals their finish in a promotion spot and Williams produced a fine batting and bowling display.

Having won the toss, EP decided to bat and it looked as though they had made a mistake when struggling at 64-6.

But Williams, coming in at No 8, hit 147 not out, including 21 fours and six sixes to help them to a total of 289-7. Simon Yates also made 69.

Barns Green could then only manage 77 all out, as Williams claimed 4-10 with the ball.

Clymping will finish second from bottom in Division 2, despite what happens in their final games against Southwick on Saturday, after their bottom-of-the-table clash with Portslade was abandoned without play due to the weather.

Eight points each sees Portslade definitely relegated, while Clymping, despite finishing in a relegation spot, will avoid the drop as Brighton Insurance, who finished second in Division 2, cannot be promoted as they have only one team.

Rustington were relegated from Division 4 on Saturday after their match with Belgrave Adelaide was cancelled, and third-from-bottom Lancing Manor beat Bury.

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