CRICKET: Littlehampton hang on to avoid defeat

That 50-run ninth-wicket stand was ended with three balls to go, when Luke Vinter was out for a 66-ball 15, and Chris Hanks then survived the final two deliveries.

Adam Tester finished unbeaten on 35 from 49 balls. With Vinter, they gained Littlehampton two extra batting points, and denied Bexhill 16 extra match points.

Littlehampton skipper Benn Challen said: "It was rubbish cricket we played, and we hate it when teams do it to us, but we couldn't just throw the game away against a team up there with us.

"We felt their total of 231 wasn't that big, because it was probably a 260-run wicket. But, we just didn't bat very well and a lot of us, myself included, got ourselves out."

Littlehampton finished on 178-9 with Aussie Angus Webster top-scoring with 48. He struck five fours and two sixes in his 51 balls, and shared a quickfire 58-run second-wicket stand with Graham Blann, who crashed 36 from only 24 deliveries.

Bexhill captain Jon Haffenden had top-scored in his side's 231-8 with 41. Elliot Guest also hit an unbeaten 40, after he survived Luke Vinter's hat-trick delivery.

Vinter took two wickets from his 13 overs, and Adam Tester grabbed three wickets for 39 runs. Off-spinner Challen also took two wickets.

Littlehampton remain second in the table, although Haywards Heath, who won against Worthing, are now just two points adrift of them. Roffey and Bexhill are also still in the promotion chase. Heath, however, finish their season with two games against second-bottom Steyning, and one match against bottom-of-the-table and winless Sidley.

Littlehampton trail leaders Lewes Priory by 12 points, and travel to them on Saturday (August 23).

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