CRICKET: Littlehampton suffer fifth successive defeat

The result keeps them rooted to the bottom after they failed to defend 239-9.

James Askew and Benn Challen both scored 85 but Guy Souch was the only other player to reach double figures.

Chichester then had a 180-run partnership between Jez Goode and John Edwards for their opening wicket which took them to the brink of victory.

Littlehampton rallied with six late wickets, four of which Adam Tester took, but captain Luke Vinter said: "For the first two hours in the field, we just weren't switched on and it's cost us 30 points.

"Maybe we were a bit complacent because we were defending a big score but they are top of the table for a reason, and we needed to be on top of our game throughout to win.

"We played pretty well, though, and dominated with the bat."

It was paceman Richard Logan, who has previously played for Hampshire and Northamptonshire, who caused Littlehampton's batsmen several problems and he finished with 4-71 from his 17 overs. Fellow opening bowler, Matt Geffen, also took four wickets.

After Askew and Challen were both out, Littlehampton lost several wickets towards the end of their innings and Vinter said: "Benn and James didn't give any chances and it was one of the best batting displays I've seen from them.

"But we then tailed off when they were out. I was happy to bat all our overs and set them 280 to 300 because, whatever score we got, they would have tried to chase down '“ but we threw our wickets away at the end."

Littlehampton are now 28 points behind second bottom St James ahead of Saturday's home match with Stirlands, who sit third from bottom.

Vinter said: "They've got Sean Heather, who's a good player but we fancy our chances.

"We've got to start winning games soon because if we keep losing, we won't give ourselves a chance of staying up."

Wicketkeeper Stuart Hanks could return to the team and Vinter also hopes that New Zealander overseas player, Ben Smith, will arrive in time to play.

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