Worthing slip first win into the bag

Having taken more time than they would have liked to click in to gear, Worthing eventually showed that despite a frustrating start to their campaign they could still be among the promotion challengers.

Worthing's start to their innings suggested they were still a bit short on confidence as Ollie Rogers and David Marshallay were back in the pavilion with only 19 runs on the board. But Casey Lee and Alex Harris started to repair the damage.

Progress was slow and when Lee's painstaking but invaluable innings ended in the 32nd over, Worthing were scoring at just under three runs per over.

"Our plan was to build a big total although leaving the acceleration until somewhat late in the day wasn't deliberate as it put the middle order under pressure. But they responded well and we certainly had the fire-power to bowl them out," skipper Dave Rogers admitted afterwards.

Harris followed his century seven days earlier by hitting eight boundaries in his 52 and his departure was the signal for John Kaye and Dave Rogers to tread on the gas.

Kaye, who had looked for runs from the start of his innings, added 25 with his captain in four overs which was the apperitif for what followed.

Andy Lutwyche then seized the initiative with both hands. From the 24 deliveries he faced he struck a six and six boundaries as he and Kaye's unbroken seventh wicket stand of 69 came off seven overs.

Twenty runs came off an over from the medium paced Kashif Rashid who had proved to be Sidley's most successful bowler.

A victory target of 224 in 53 overs against Worthing's formidable attack looked beyond Sidley who soon began losing wickets. Chris Mansell and Greg Dowell quickly had the visitors on the run as the first six wickets fell for 50.

Tyrone Wildman and Chris Deepdale delayed the inevitable by adding 39 for the seventh wicket after which Ollie Rogers and Lutwyche, who only bowled three overs, mopped up the tail giving Worthing a much needed victory with 22.3 overs to spare.