Cricket: Chichester wilt at Worthing

However, a dramatic batting collapse put paid to all their hard work.

Mark Bamford elected to field and the bowlers backed the captain as they bowled the home side out for 183.

Opener Michael Gould swung at everything Chichester bowled at him and reached 55 before he was trapped lbw by Daniel Joseph (2-48).

Bamford took the pace off the ball and introduced Adam Zampa. The scoring rate slowed and wickets fell.

Zampa bowled an incredible spell of leg spin, claiming six for 56 from 24.2 overs. He needed support from the other end and this came from Matt Geffen who bowled a miserly spell of two for 16 from ten overs.

But Chichester were unable to remove Darryl Rebbetts until the final over.

At 127 for three, Chichester seemed to be cruising with Chris Kirkham (50) and Zampa (43) at the crease, but both failed to make sure they went on to a decisive innings.

Even with the loss of the pair, 57 runs should still have been within the visitors’ grasp.

But they were bowled out for just 157 with three balls of the game left. Mason Crane was the pick of the home attack with five for 44.

Chichester lost seven wickets for 30 to give Worthing the full 30 points to their 12. Had it ended in a draw, Worthing would have taken only ten.

Chichester have dropped to fifth – with Worthing now not far behind.

They begin the second half of the season, hoping for better, at East Grinstead on Saturday.

Chichester II v Worthing

THIS was an entertaining game – but not for all the right reasons.

On a seamer’s wicket Worthing slipped to 45 for six with Dan Faulkner taking four wickets and Elliott Davies weighing in.

The visitors steadily built a total of 197. George Stephens took two wickets for Priory.

After various appeals by both teams for local youngsters to keep away from the sightscreens, a heated debate ensued.

A PCSO arrived but all advice was ignored and various youths became increasingly mischevious, resulting in back up from the local station and a chase across the field of play, where a superb rugby tackle by the boys in blue apprehended one offender.

Two arrests were made and order was restored.

A confident batting display ensured the points for the hosts. Beck Hemingway continued his good form with a brilliant 48 and John ‘Eagle’ Edwards struck a creditable 35.

Ben Woodruff supported well with 30 and Stephens capped a fine day with 21.

Priory won by four wickets with time to spare.