CRICKET: Local round-up (July 8)

Littlehampton had restricted Bognor, who won the toss, to just 189-9 after their 53 overs in their Sussex League Division 3 West clash, but after a good start, Challen thought a middle order stutter in Littlehampton's response let them down.

Bognor's Ollie Handson was the only real significant run maker for them as he scored 65.

Benn Challen took 5-82 for Littlehampton and Luke Vinter grabbed 3-57.

James Askew (26) and Rick Heberlein (32) then put on 54 for Littlehampton's first wicket, before Benn Challen (39) came to the crease and helped them to 80-1 at one stage.

But only one of the next six batsmen made double figures, before Amit Midha (17 not out) helped Littlehampton hang on to the draw, finishing at 177-9, just 10 runs short of the win.

Captain Gareth Challen said: "We were not too bad at all in our fielding and bowling but didn't do too well in the batting.

"We were happy with what we let them get, although it could and should have been a few less as we dropped their top scorer Ollie when he was only on a few.

"We had trouble watering the pitch during the week so it was quite dry and obviously turned a lot more. This benefited the spinners, and Benn took advantage, and Luke and Dan (Rive) bowled well, too.

"We were looking really good at one stage with the bat but, unfortunately, as has happened before this season, the middle order let us down.

"A couple of us need to step up and take responsibility to help see out the game. We need to get back to being a bit more ruthless and people need to see it as their jobs to get the runs to win the game. We have virtually all played at a higher level, some in the Premier Division, so we are all very capable."

Clymping had to settle for a draw in their West Sussex Invitation League clash at Division 1 leaders Wisborough Green.

Andy Hancock (24) and Craig Johnson (28) put up early runs for Clymping, who had won the toss, but they soon found themselves struggling at 68-4.

Andy Wilkinson's 81 and Karl Pierce's 66 saw them put on 125 for the fifth wicket, while Adam Foster (18) helped them to finish at 244-8.

Wisborough's first three wickets were back in the pavilion with just 24 runs on the board, before Justin Grant (29) and Tim Monday (25) restored a little order.

Ben Thatcher top-scored with 55 not out, despite wickets continuing to fall, and they finished on 185-9. Karl Pierce led the attack with 5-43, while Richard Waddington picked up 2-17.

Captain Paul Challen said: "Their captain came up and said we deserved to win, and that we were the better side and totally out played them.

"I tried a lot of bowlers at them but they were blocking out and we couldn't get the final wicket, which we had an over at.

"I was pleased with the performance, but disappointed not to get the win."

East Preston took 13 points from their Division 1 draw at Southwick.

Southwick won the toss and opted to bat, Martyn Rea top-scored with 68 in Wickers' total and six of their top seven batsmen got starts but failed to push on. Chris Ballard hit 31, Dan Feniuk 30, Hanan Burki and Summers both made 29, and Russell Martin 28 to take them to a total of 255-8.

Tom Chamberlein returned the best bowling figures with 4-59, while Mark Coskin claimed 2-62.

In EP's response, Chris Williams blasted 64 at the top of the order and Dan Williams hit 45 not out.

Gary Weedon made 22 and Joe Carter hit 35 but they finished 30 runs short of victory at 217-6.

Paul Grennan grabbed 3-59 for Southwick.

In Division 4, Rustington's David Mangold took a hat-trick but his side went down to a 100-run defeat at home to Worthing 3rd.

Mangold clean bowled Jamie Carter, Harry Dunn and James Aylen as he finished with 5-62 in Worthing's total of 249-6.

Simon Blowen then top-scored with 40 for Rustington but they were all out for 149.

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