Rain ends title hopes for Littlehampton

In a shoot-out for the title, leaders West Chiltington started the day four points ahead of Littlehampton.

After winning the toss, the hosts elected to bowl and Littlehampton posted 147-9 from 45 overs, before the rain came down and the game was eventually abandoned at 5.55pm.

That resulted in both teams gaining ten points and saw West Chilt crowned as the champions and they will now be promoted into the Sussex League.

Littlehampton player James Askew was disappointed with the way his side’s season came to a close.

He said: “It’s obviously very disappointing for the season to end in this way.

“We wanted to try and gain promotion this season but in the end fell just short.

“The rainfall was minimal and we felt we probably could have played on to start with but it became persistent and, as a side, there was nothing we could do about that.

“It’s just a shame that the season had to end in this way.

“We were going really well at 100 for two before the rain came.

“I think if we had stayed out there, we could well have posted a big total.

“However, we came off and the innings was restricted which gave the batters no choice but to tee off.

“We lost wickets quickly but in the end it did not matter as we could not play anymore as the innings drew to a close.

“It’s a real shame as if the rain had stayed away I felt we could have posted a decent total.”

Littlehampton lost Tom Lee for two, with the score on seven, before James Askew and Ally James put on a 82-run stand for the second wicket.

James was the second man to fall, for 39, before seven wickets then fell for 20 runs as Littlehampton slipped to 131-9.

Askew top-scored with 55 as he finished the season with 1,384 runs, while Ryan Budd hit 11 not out in an unbroken 16-run stand with Lewis Hart, who struck seven not out.

Tim Monday led the way with 5-32 from 14 overs and James Howgate picked up 2-37.

There was no more play possible, though, and West Chiltington were crowned league champions.

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