Worthing continue perfect home form

Worthing eased to a six-wicket win at home to Hastings, who started the day top of Sussex League Division 2 but have now dropped to second. Despite the win, from which they took 28 points, Worthing dropped a place to fourth, below Three Bridges, who they had started the day level on points with, as Bridges collected all 30 points in a 151-run win over Crowhurst Park.

Worthing are 22 points behind Hastings and 38 points behind leaders Lindfield and vice-captain Benn Challen said: “It was a really good win and there’s still all to play for.

“We’ve got to sort our away form out as we’ve only won once away. We’ve still got Lindfield and Three Bridges to play, so they’re the biggest games we’ve got left and we’ll just see where we are after those.”

Hastings opted to bat first after winning the toss but Worthing bowled well as the visitors finished their 53 overs on 174-9.

Shane Felton dismissed Hastings’ opening batsmen Joe Billings (23) and Elliot Hooper (six) to leave the visitors 37-2. George Campbell then fell for 15 with the score on 62, before Harry Finch and Tom Gillespie shared a 61-run fourth-wicket stand. Finch was the first of Challen’s three wickets, for 53, and Gillespie was out to Harry Dunn for 29 shortly afterwards.

Jack Colley added 34 for the visitors but Worthing were happy with the total they were chasing at the halfway stage.

Dunn finished with 3-23 from five overs, Challen took 3-43 off 13 overs and Felton claimed 2-51 from 21 overs.

In Worthing’s reply, Josh Wood fell for 11 after a 26-run opening stand, before Sam Jones and Sam Delaney put on 49 for the second wicket.

Delaney made 20, before Jones was third man out with the score on 92 after hitting six fours and three sixes in his 60 from 69 deliveries.

Matthew Green’s dismissal for 17 left Worthing 111-4 but Challen struck 39 not out from 32 balls and Nick Ballamy finished unbeaten on 27 from 22 deliveries as they put on an unbroken 64-run stand to take their side to victory.

Challen said: “We weren’t sure what a decent score would be on the wicket but it got easier to bat on as the sun came out and the game went on. We were pretty positive at halfway and Sam Jones then batted really well at the start of our innings.”

Worthing travel to Crowhurst Park on Saturday.

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