Crook blasts a ton as Arundel win derby

Despite the win, Arundel dropped from the top to second in West Sussex Invitation League Division 1. Arundel took 26 points from the win against Littlehampton but Broadwater collected the maximum 30 points from their six-wicket success at home to Pulborough to go back to the top.

Arundel trail Broadwater by just three points but have a game in hand.

Crook ended unbeaten on 137 from just 126 balls, with an innings that included 22 fours and one six. His opening partner, Joe Bain, hit 90 not out as they put on an unbroken stand of 233 in pursuit of Littlehampton’s total of 232 for six.

The victory continues Arundel’s flying start to the campaign as they now have three wins and two draws from their opening five league matches, while the defeat was Littlehampton’s first of the year.

After winning the toss, Littlehampton opted to bat and captain James Askew and Tom Lee got their side off to a superb start.

Askew, who is the leading runscorer in the league, moved on to 520 for the season as he was dismissed for 49 with the score on 117.

Lee top-scored with 80 and now has 268 runs this year, before he was third man out with the score on 139.

Littlehampton then slipped to 170 for five, before Chris Heberlein and Jordan Farrell put on 62 for the sixth wicket.

Heberlein fired 51 from only 36 balls and Farrell hit 24 not out off 18 deliveries.

Matthew Reynolds and Kieran Hornsby both took two wickets for Arundel.

Crook was dropped in just the second over of Arundel’s reply and Littlehampton were made to pay as Arundel’s openers took their side to victory in 37.4 overs.

Bain’s innings leaves him fifth in the league’s top runscoring chart with 332 from five innings. Crook moved on to 225 runs for the season with his century.

Arundel face a trip to fourth-placed Felbridge & Sunnyside on Saturday, while Littlehampton, who are sixth, travel to fifth-placed St Andrews.

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