Littlehampton slip to defeat at Slinfold

The wicket was still damp from overnight rain and a shower 15 minutes before the start did not help Littlehampton’s batsmen either, after Slinfold had won the toss in the Sussex League Division 3 West clash.

Littlehampton had two batsmen run-out early in their innings and skipper Dan Rive said: “The pitch dried out as the game went on but it was one of those games where if you win the toss, you’ve got an 80 per cent chance of winning the game.

“We scored most of our runs in the final 20 overs of our innings once the pitch had dried out but the two run-outs earlier in our innings were a direct result of the ground conditions.

“James Askew top-edged the ball straight to mid-wicket, who dropped a sitter, but Guy Souch was down the wicket and couldn’t get back. And then Darren Bazley slipped going for a second run and James Askew was halfway down and couldn’t get back.

“Michael Askew and Amit Midha both batted extremely well but we then bowled too short in their innings and the ball just sat up for them to hit.”

Littlehampton finished their 53 overs on 186-8 as Midha top-scored with 48 and Michael Askew hit 43.

Midha struck six fours in his 71-ball knock, while Askew struck four boundaries off 100 deliveries.

Tom Lee added an unbeaten 25 down the order, before Littlehampton made the perfect start in Slinfold’s innings when Rive had Steven Haines caught by Midha off the first ball of their reply. Ethan Ansell was then adjudged lbw by Amjad Mohsin for 14, before Matt Yates and captain Guy Thorne took the game away from Littlehampton.

Yates hit 64 and Thorne a run-a-ball 58, before both were dismissed by Rive, who also had Tom Filby caught behind by Michael Askew for a duck, but Hayden Mcintyre, with 25 not out, and Tim Coghill, with an unbeaten 18, got Slinfold home with seven overs to spare.

Littlehampton entertain leaders Findon, who have lost their last two matches, on Saturday.