WORTHING SHOCKED AT HOME BY HEATH

BRIEF thoughts of possible promotion for Worthing dimmed on Saturday, almost as soon as they had brightened, with defeat at the Manor Ground to the bottom team in the division. They were beaten with six overs to spare after setting Heath 203 to win.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jul 2004, 13:38 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 01:01 BST

Worthing missed Chris Mansell whose pace bowling has penetrated in recent weeks and whose lower-order batting has increased confidence in the side. Mansell had a calf injury but may be fit to face promotion-seeking Little-hampton away this Saturday.

Worthing gave a debut to Ian Higgins, a Lancing College student who made a careful 23 off 55 balls while middle-order wickets fell around him. Seamer Tom Hudson, 17, took his maiden league wicket with one of three slip catches by Dave Marshallsay, this one breaking Heath's opening partnership at 42.

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Marshallsay nearly dropped that one but the second of his two takes off three-wicket Aussie leg-spinner Matt Paul lit up the side when he grabbed the ball left-handed after it flicked off wicketkeeper John Kaye.

Heath's progress stuttered after Hudson's catch off Ben Shelford got the fourth wicket, at 115. Opening bowler Danny Barton returned with two quick strikes but Graham Honeysett joined Tom Dowdall to steer Heath home with 44 runs together. Dowdall made an unbeaten 71.

After Worthing chose to bat, openers Marshallsay and Shelford were unparted until 85 in the 18th over. Shelford fell in the 27th, his 63 off 87 balls including 11 fours, but Paul was out soon afterwards, the first of seven victims for off-spinner Paul Edmunds at a cost of 41 runs off 15 uninterrupted overs. As he took those seven, Worthing could add only 70 runs.

Head of cricket Andy Lutwyche assessed it: "We should have got more runs: 230 or 240 would have been nice. They bowled it in the spot and we couldn't get them away. The off-spinner got us frustrated.

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"Then their batsmen made the most of the far too many four-balls we gave them and the catches that fell out of reach. Tom Hudson came off early because we wanted to get spin on as early as possible.

"Regarding Littlehampton on Saturday, we usually do all right down there. We need a bit more application, batting-wise, and our bowlers mustn't let batsmen off the hook with loose deliveries."

RUSSELL BROWN took five wickets for 66 when Worthing 2nd XI won by seven wickets at Haywards Heath. It was their fifth victory in 12 starts and, while 40 points off the lead, they have a match in hand.

SUSSEX CCC, on the lookout for young talent, hold a Cricket For The Community Day at Crawley Eagles on Monday. All youngsters are welcome. See the Herald for more details.