Cricket fixtures are hit by the rain yet again

Heavy rain late last week and again on Saturday decimated the league cricket programme.

Just two matches started in the West Sussex Invitation League, although both were abandoned, however, a result was achieved in one Sussex League match in the Premier Division game between relegation-threatened Eastbourne and Bexhill.

The game saw former England paceman Ed Giddins, 41, bowl Eastbourne to just their second victory of the season and it allowed the Saffrons club to move to within 13 points of Bexhill with a game in hand.

In a game played to 100-over rules, Eastbourne, after being put in, scored 224-9 with 69 from skipper Mark Tomsett and 47 from Sussex wicketkeeper Ben Brown.

Bexhill then had to contend with several weather interruptions and also two overs reductions in their chase for the runs, and were all out for 91 as Giddins took 7-27, including one spell of five wickets in 12 balls for no runs.

A start was possible at Brighton & Hove where visitors East Grinstead were in trouble at 21-3 when rain brought an end to the game.

At Hastings, the home side were put in by Horsham and reached 227-6 from 46 overs ,with Kirk Wernars hitting 87 not out, before rain stopped play.

Only one game got underway in the whole of Division 3. The West Division was a complete wash-out but, in the East Division, Seaford scored 235-6 at home to Hellingly, who were 19-1 off six overs when rain set in.

In the West Sussex Invitation League, just two games started.

Eastergate were 94-5 at West Blatchington after 29 overs when play was abandoned in Division 2. And, in Division 9, Portslade 3rd scored 176-7 in 40 overs at home to Felbridge & Sunnyside 3rd when play was stopped.

There was no more luck with the weather on Monday as Sussex’s CB40 clash with Kent at Arundel Castle was rained off without a ball being bowled.

The Arundel Festival of Cricket continues all week, with Durham the visitors in the County Championship until Saturday and Northamptonshire the visitors in the CB40 on Sunday.