Clymping get underway with a draw at Southwick

Clymping were without a game in the scheduled first week of the season – when the entire league programme was called off – and the whole league programme was again called off last week.

Even on Saturday, just two games in Division 1 went ahead and, although Clymping skipper Chris Green was pleased to get a game on, he was left frustrated that his side failed to win.

After Green had won the toss, Clymping restricted Southwick to 151-8 from their 49 overs on a slow and low wicket.

Craig Dawson top-scored for Southwick with 51 as he hit his maiden league half-century and Tim Shutt added 42 as he struck four fours and two sixes.

Off-spinner Paul Challen led the way for Clymping with 4-31 from 15 overs, while James Salisbury, Karl Pierce, Richard Waddington and Rob Fauvel all picked up a wicket each.

Clymping got off a strong start in their reply, with opening batsmen Graham Merritt-Blann and Stuart Hanks looking comfortable.

However, when Hanks was adjudged run-out when attempting a second run to fine leg, Clymping began to lose wickets fairly regularly.

Gareth Challen and Green fell, before Merritt-Blann was bowled by a ball that did not leave the ground for 47.

Clymping were still in the hunt for the win but lost frequent wickets and when Andy Wilkinson was out for 26, they decided to settle for the draw.

But, with new rules in place this season for a winning draw, Clymping still could have got an extra four points if their run rate through their innings was higher than Southwick’s. But Clymping finished two runs short of the extra points on 137-8 after Southwick paceman Paul Grennan bowled a maiden to Paul Challen with the final over of the match – which meant the home side took 14 points from the game and Clymping took eight.

Green said: “We’ll look at this as a game which slipped through the net.

“We really should have won but I can’t fault the lads for the way we bowled, especially Paul, who was fantastic.

“It was good to get a game in, even though we got fewer points than if it had been abandoned. We’ve got some proper game time in when other sides haven’t and, although we’re frustrated not to have won, we’re not too disappointed.”

Clymping entertain Felbridge, who have had all three of their matches called off so far, on Saturday.