CRICKET: Littlehampton get back on track

Littlehampton chased down 268 to win and moved up a place to fourth from bottom and are now just 34 points behind leaders Slinfold, with a game in hand.

After Chris Heberlein had taken four wickets in Findon's 267-7, Benn Challen blasted 102 in Littlehampton's reply as they reached their target with 10 balls to spare.

Littlehampton captain Gareth Challen is now hoping his side can build on the win, starting at Pagham on Saturday: "It's a big game. They've got off to a good start and are one of the better teams in the league.

"Our position of fourth from bottom doesn't look great but we're still only 30 points off the top, with a game in hand. We've also still got to play Pagham twice and Bognor twice – we just need to get on a bit of a run.

"If we can get a couple of wins on the bounce, we'll be right up there."

Felix Jordan crashed 89 and Jack Metters 69 in Findon's total as Heberlain took 4-58 from 12 overs and Luke Vinter 2-62 from 16 overs, after he had conceded just five runs in his opening seven-over spell.

After James Askew was out for a duck in Littlehampton's reply, Benn Challen put on 72 for the second wicket with Graham Blann, who crashed 46, with six fours and two sixes, and 108 for the fourth wicket with brother Gareth, who hit nine fours in his 47.

Benn fell for 102, after striking 18 fours and two sixes, with the score on 207 and Gareth was out the following over, which left Stuart Hanks (17), and then Wes Campbell (nine not out) and Vinter (30 not out) to take Littlehampton home.

Gareth Challen said: "They got more than we would have hoped and it was a hard day in the field but, if we bat to our potential, we back ourselves to chase down scores.

"Benn batted well and didn't give any chances and then Luke saw us home at the end. We still needed 40 or 50 from about 10 overs but he just waited for the bad ball and got us into a position where we definitely wouldn't lose."

After their defeat on Saturday, Findon won their National Village Cup Sussex final by 18 runs against reigning champions Glynde on Sunday and now move on into the national stages.

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