They went close – but fell just short in the final few overs, despite an impressive performance from the whole team.

Stirlands lost the toss and were put into bat.

They started cautiously but lost Daniel Oliver in the fourth over to an early-season lack of concentration.

This brought Sean Heather to the crease and he looked to play carefully while rotating the strike.

Stirlands lost Nick Hunt early as well, so it was essential Heather and Daniel Cox found a meaningful partnership.

They batted together for 12 overs, Heather surviving a run-out attempt.
They put on a patient 38 before Cox fell to the impressive 15-year-old Endersby, who trapped him lbw for seven.

Dave Chordia came to the crease and he and Heather put on 42 in difficult conditions.

Horsham's spinners gave Stirlands little in the way of bad balls.

Chordia unluckily dragged a wide ball on to his stumps for 15 with the score on 91 before Heather brought up his 50 in 89 balls.

Stirlands' new overseas player, Australian Nathan Ball, chipped his fourth ball back to the bowler bringing Max Barson to the crease, and he and Heather set about rebuilding the innings once again.

Barson batted well and the pair kept Sussex leg spinner Will Beer quiet, although they struggled to score many off him.

Barson and Heather put on 34 before Barson picked out square leg on ten. This brought hard-hitting Anthony Ender to the crease and he needed to play an uncharacteristic innings without any big shots.

He did this superbly and he and Heather put on the only 50 partnership.

Heather was starting to score freely and, with eight overs to go, Ender came out of his shell and started to take the attack to the bowlers with Heather.

With the score on 180 for six with five overs left, it looked as though Stirlands might be able to get to 200-plus, but Ender went for 25 and Heather for 91, so the final score was 187 for eight in allotted overs –a total they felt they could defend.

Stirlands started with a few bad balls to the dangerous Andrew Hodd. Ball started with impressive pace and aggression and bowled Hodd with the score on 55 in the 13th over.

Stirlands started to get some control with tight bowling from Graham Bush and fiery bowling from Ball and Ender, supported by outstanding fielding.

Ender started to cause the batsmen major problems and he produced a magnificent spell of three for 15 from six overs, with all three wickets in one over.

Bush took two for 18 off ten consecutive overs, bowling with great control and pace. Stirlands looked as though they could get into Horsham's middle/lower order, but a superb partnership from A Hillman and wicketkeeper M Simpson rebuilt the innings and took Horsham to a winning total of 189 for seven with three overs to spare.

Stirlands secured nine points and Horsham gained 26. But Stirlands can take great confidence from the game ahead of this Saturday's derby at home to Chichester Priory Park.