CRICKET: Local round-up (July 29)

EAST Preston Cricket Club meet local-rivals Clymping on Saturday in what could be a key match in the battle for survival in Division 1 of the West Sussex Invitation League.

EP's eight points in their 10-wicket defeat against Southwater on Saturday, meant Clymping, who had a free week, slipped into the relegation zone just one-point behind EP, who have played a game more.

A good win for either side could pull them close to fourth from bottom Southwick, who are currently 44 points clear, while Portslade, sitting bottom on 99 points, would need a dramatic turnaround to save their season.

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EP captain Andy Reeves, currently sidelined through injury, said: "We've got to try to beat them on Saturday as we both have the same three teams to face.

"I think we need two wins from four games. I'd like to try to beat Portslade as well, but if we can't do that then we'll need something against Felbridge or Crawley Eagles, which will be difficult."

On Saturday, EP lost the toss and were inserted, but made an impressive start with all four of the top order making starts.

Tim Miles (43) and Chris Williams (31) put on 47 for the first wicket. Third and fourth men in Colin Smith (22) and Tom Reeves (34) added to the score, but wickets then continued to fall.

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From 132-3, EP collapsed in the mid-to-lower order to 186 all out. This was mainly due to a torrid attack from Nick Baker (4-51) and Johann Brouwer (6-45).

Southwater openers Alex Harding (113 not out) and Bryan Streeter (60 not out) then replied with an unbeaten stand of 187 to take them home in 26.4 overs.

Reeves said: "We started well but got bogged down lower in the order. We tried to play catch-up and played silly shots. Panic set in when really we should have got around 240."

Arundel failed to build on their 106-run victory over Littlehampton last week as they slumped to a 176-run defeat at home to Slinfold on Saturday.

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Having beaten rivals Littlehampton, Arundel may have installed a little hope back into their season, but they were sent crashing back down to earth on Saturday in a result which sees them remain bottom of Division 3 West of the Sussex League.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Slinfold put Arundel to the sword with Jonathan Augustus smashing 191 from only 130 balls, with 154 of his runs coming in boundaries as he crashed 31 fours and five sixes.

Augustus put on 118 for the second wicket with Ethan Ansell, who struck 32 and later added 118 for the fourth wicket with Richard Harris, who hit 46 off 53 deliveries with eight fours and one six.

Rakesh Parmar was the pick of the Arundel bowling with 3-91 off 15.4 overs as Slinfold declared on 311-7 after just 47.4 overs.

In their response, Arundel fell from 111-2 to 139 all out.

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Aussie Ed Lewis top-scored with 48 for Arundel to move on to 361 league runs for the season but Geoff Stothert (35), Joe Bain (26) and Sean Twine (11) were their only other batsmen to reach double figures.

Charlie Haire grabbed 7-41 for Slinfold.

Despite the defeat, Arundel are now just 28 points behind second-from-bottom Henfield, who were without a game.

In Division 4 of the West Sussex Invitation League, Rustington lost by 54 runs to Brighton and Hove 3rd and remain second from bottom.

Rustington stuck Brighton into bat and they struck 254-7 before declaring after 47 overs.

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Joe Nichols hit 13 fours and two sixes as he top-scored with 78 before he was one of Kevin Rathbone's four wickets.

Anthony Statham added an unbeaten 40 down the order for Brighton, with six fours and one six.

Rustington started well in their response as Alex Finch, with 61 which included 11 fours, and Simon Gosden, with six fours in his 37, got them into a decent position.

Dave Mangold added 41 with three fours and three sixes but wickets fell regularly and Rustington were dismissed for 200.

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Jake Comaschi topped Brighton's bowling with figures of 5-84.

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