Clymping off the mark with a derby victory

After a disappointing start to the campaign last week with a derby defeat to Littlehampton, Clymping hit back to secure a three-wicket win over league new boys Arundel.

The result moved Clymping up to fourth in the table, 12 points behind third-placed Arundel.

Having lost the toss and been stuck in, Arundel got off to a storming start as Joel Crook (35) and Joe Bain (21) put on an opening stand of 53.

Clymping captain James Salisbury struck first to remove Bain, before three quick wickets from Rory Mitchell reduced Arundel to 69-4.

A middle-order 41 from Matt Reynolds was then crucial in helping the visitors to 164-9 after their 49 overs. In the Clymping attack, Mitchell claimed 3-38 and Paul Challen 3-19.

In reply, Clymping’s openers Paddy Horne (31) and Chris Green (45) made good inroads with an opening stand on 47.

Green continued to score despite a flurry of wickets from Neil Chitty (4-42), before he was caught by Mark Barry off Jacob Temple’s bowling with the score on 102.

Although Alan Budd (six) and Graham Merritt-Blann (nought) were quickly dismissed, Rory Mitchell (31) and Andy Wilkinson put on a seventh-wicket stand of 49, before the latter eased them home with an unbeaten 28.

Salisbury said: “It was great to get the first win of the season under our belts, especially after the Littlehampton loss.

“I was slightly frustrated we didn’t bowl them out and missed a few chances early on, so 164 in those conditions always meant it was going to be a close game.

“Credit to everyone as it wasn’t pleasant out there but it was nice to see all the bowlers chip in with wickets.

“The difference this week was when chasing, we had a solid start through our openers and this laid down the foundation.

“Despite a little wobble in the middle order, Rory and Andy finished the innings superbly, meaning we won the game with a couple of overs to spare.”