CRICKET: Weekly round-up

However, he refuses to completely rule them out until it is for definite, and said: "I would have thought that's it now but, mathematically, we're not definitely down, and we have four games left, three of which are winnable.

"However, it's more a case of us looking to next season and getting our confidence up. It plays a big part in the game and, if we don't get an early wicket, our heads go down straight away.

"We need to work on that and change the mentality before the end of the season, so we can bounce back next year."

Littlehampton made 225-8 against Stirlands on Saturday with solid contributions throughout the order.

Ben Smith (42), Chris Heberlein (40), Benn Challen (35) and Gareth Challen (36) were all in the runs.

But Ben Rapson eased Stirlands to a six-wicket win with 83 as they got home with nine balls left. Rapson had been dropped on 43 by Dan Rive, and Challen added: "With the way we've been batting this season, I was very happy with 225 and the fact everyone contributed.

"At times, I thought we would get a draw from it and if we had got Rapson out earlier, it would definitely have been and, maybe, we would have even gone on to win it.

"We now face Roffey, Bexhill and Worthing twice so we need to win all four to have any chance of staying up."

Arundel slumped to an 89-run defeat against Sussex League Division 3 West leaders Billingshurst.

Arundel had started well and reduced Billingshurst to 45-4 but their overseas player, Carleon Brome, then smashed 151 from 127 balls, with 12 fours and nine sixes, as he put on 201 for the fifth wicket with Andrew Simmons, who finished 40 not out.

Despite Arundel opener Justin Murray batting through the innings to make an unbeaten 78, only Ryan Chitty (31) gave him any support and they were dismissed for 157.

Brome's excellent day continued with the ball as he led Billingshurst's attack with 3-39.

Richard Laker and Dan Williams were East Preston's heroes in their three-wicket win over Crawley Eagles in Division 1 of the West Sussex Invitation League.

EP won the toss and inserted their opponents '“ a decision which proved to be the right one as Laker shone with the ball and took 8-64 in 16.5 overs to help bowl Eagles out for 168.

Jack Sunderland and Tom Chamberlain, both with 17, made starts for EP, as did Colin Smith with 24.

But they soon found themselves struggling at 71-4 before Williams came in and smashed them to victory with 71 not out.

Clymping fought out an entertaining draw in the same division against Felbridge & Sunnyside.

All three results were possible in the last over as Felbridge needed seven runs to win, whereas Clymping needed just one wicket to take the victory. But a maiden was bowled.

Felbridge won the toss and inserted Clymping, who hit a total of 207-8, with Kim Dean top-scoring with 49.

David Jones then hit 81 for Felbridge as they eventually closed on 201-9.

Rustington lost their Division 3 home clash against West Blatchington. The visitors batted first and posted 235-3 from 41 overs before Rustington were all out for 108.

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