CRICKET: Middleton sink Littlehampton by 155 runs

Littlehampton hit rock bottom after suffering a crushing 155-run defeat in last Saturday's local derby against Middleton but Vinter hopes Ben Smith, their New Zealander overseas player, will arrive in time to play and they will also be boosted by the return of brothers Benn and Gareth Challen, Stuart Hanks and Chris Green.

Vinter said: "Pulborough aren't the greatest on paper. But last season they were very much hit and miss as they beat us there and we won against them here. What we've got to do is to get out of the rut we're in at the moment and climb off the bottom of the table.

"Our problem is that we seem to be putting too much pressure on ourselves, which is why we need to relax a bit.

"We've got much the same team as last year when we almost got promotion and we don't become a bad team overnight."

To add insult to injury on Saturday, Middleton opener Ben Hansford's 144 was 52 runs more than Littlehampton's meagre total.

There was no relief when Littlehampton batted. Paceman Brandon Hanley proved too hot to handle with figures of 6-22 in 12.2 overs as Littlehampton were dismissed for 92.

However, Littlehampton can plead mitigation to being without four of their regular first team.

Their only consolation was provided by Ryan Budd, who followed his 2-53 by being top scorer with 30.

Vinter said: "Ryan showed the rest of us what a bit of application can do. This was only his second first-team game which made his all-round performance all the more encouraging."

Surprisingly, after the match Vinter had no regrets about his decision to field first: "It was a gamble because I thought that after the way we played in our first two matches, our best chance of winning was to stick them in and try to dismiss them cheaply."

Hansford, who batted with a runner for much of his innings because of a groin problem, ensured that Vinter's decision backfired horribly.

Although Adam Tester struck an early blow for Littlehampton, Hansford dominated the Middleton innings and punished anything outside the off stump.

Hansford was well supported by three of his colleagues before being fifth out. He faced 138 deliveries and hit a six and 25 boundaries.

His innings effectively put the match out of Littlehampton's reach.

Littlehampton never recovered from losing openers James Askew and Dan Rive for five runs. Guy Souch and Chris Helberlein temporarily stopped the rot until Hanley dismissed both in successive overs.

Matt Parnell also departed in a nine-ball spell which reduced Littlehampton to 26-5.

Vinter and Budd defended doggedly but it was not until Budd was joined by Tester that batting looked an easier task.

The ninth-wicket pair's stand of 38 in eight overs was easily the best of the innings, but Hanley finished the match by dismissing both in successive overs.

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