2nd XI T20 Final at The County Ground, Hove - 17.8.14

Tom Lund's men faced a good quality East Grinstead side in the final of the T20 Cup at Hove supported by a number of club members. Tom Lund won the toss and elected to bowl first but division one side amassed 198 for 4 from their 20 overs. Gareth Challen took 2 for 31 and a wicket each for Shane Felton and Martyn Swift.

The reply was always going to be a tough ask at 10 runs per over and so it proved as Worthing made just 160 for 4 with Man of the Match Alex Harris making 68, Challen 32 and Nick Ballamy 25 in the reply. A great effort but unfortunately in vain.

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Senior Results - 27.7.2013

There were only two games this weekend as the 3rd XI and 4th XI both had free weeks.

1st XI v East Grinstead (Away):
Another loss and another lack of runs led to another defeat for Worthing at East Grinstead on Saturday. With heavy showers forecast the hosts won the toss and elected to bat on what looked a good batting track. Worthing's bowlers kept their opponents on a tight rein with some disciplined bowling, limiting EG to 241 for 7 from their 58 overs, with only a short interruption for a light shower. Matt Green was the pick of the bowlers claiming 4 for 43, and there was a wicket each for Jamie Piper, Luke Vinter and Andy Lutwyche.

In reply only four Worthing batsmen reached double figures in what seems a habitual collapse. Green scored 18, Michael Gould top scored with 66, Ian Gooding maintained his good run of form with 44 and Lutwyche hit 18 at the end as Worthing fell for 182, batting in near darkness and rain for the final 10 to 20 overs of the game, a period which one umpire described as "ridiculous" out in the middle, but didn't deem it "ridiculous" enough to take the players off the field.

Worthing's batsmen will have to step up to the mark in a crucial game against fellow "bottom feeders" Roffey at the Manor next Saturday, and the weather cannot be blamed for the result that the hosts thoroughly deserved.

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2nd XI v Ifield (Home):
Rain thwarted any result at the Manor Ground. Tom Lund won the toss and chose to field first, bowling the visitors out for 185 in 43 overs. Nick Oxley took 4 for 48, Martyn Swift 3 for 57 and Andy Reid 3 for 43.

The reply was only 8 overs old when the weather halted proceedings at 32 for 2 with Gary Tester on 17 not out.

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Senior Results - 25.5.13

1st XI v East Grinstead (Home):

I think it's fair to say that the first team were brought to earth with a bump as their unbeaten start came to an end against title contenders East Grinstead at the MCG. Despite heavy overnight rain the pitch was a belter and Darryl Rebbetts opted to bowl first having won the toss.

A reasonably tight start saw Jamie Piper take his first wicket in the first eleven but Tim Davey, former Worthing overseas player Ben Cameron's protege from Australia smashed 180 as EG amassed 334 for 5 in their 58 overs, endangering the cars in the car park on more that one occasion. Matt Machan picked up to wickets, with Malcolm Lake and Matt Green taking the others.

Worthing'r reply never really got going and started in the worst possible way as Green was run out without facing and wickets fell steadily until Alex Harris (44) and Darryl Rebbetts (13) hung around. Worthing eventually succumbed for just 109.

Well and truly beaten by a better team on the day.

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2nd XI v Ifield (Away):

The second team finally managed to complete a game at Ifield, which ended in a draw. Having been put into bat Tom Lund's side lost early wickets but the skipper himself and Gary Tester steadied the boat. Lund was out for 38 but Tester went onto score 104 which included 10 fours and 5 sixes and take the total up to 189 for 8 from 53 overs.

In reply the hosts held on for the draw at 154 for 9. Shane Felton took 3 for 53 and Luke Barnes 2 for 24, with a wicket each for Martyn Swift, Tester and Kevin Punter.

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Senior Matches - 4.8.12

The first eleven traveled to East Grinstead and bowled first on what looked a decent surface having lost the toss. After a wayward start with the ball, Worthing regained some control with the spin attack of Benn Challen (2 for 42) and Mason Crane (4 for 84) to restrict EG to 245 for 8 when it looked initially like a far larger total. John Glver took the other wicket.

What wasn't factored into the equation was Sussex paceman Lewis Hatchett who took 9 for 17 as Worthing stumbled to just 57 all out, with no false shots, just Hatchett swinging it around corners!

The seconds won by 62 runs at the MCG. Having elected to bat first the hosts clocked up 235 for 5 with veteran Tim Dunn batting all 53 overs for 97 not out, aided by Alex Harris (27), Nick Ballamy (25) and Nick Gunning (33 not out). EG never looked like reaching their target as Martyn Swift (4 for 40) and Shane Felton (4 for 50) made early inroads, whilst Paul Westlake (2 for 30) mopped up the tail. The two's are now in 6th position.

The third eleven achieved a winning draw against Brighton & Hove 3rd XI. Batting first Kevin Punter hit 59, Dave McAdam-Freud 49 not out, Josh Cottrell 44, Lloyd Crathern 35 and Tom Chambers 22 in their total of 241 for 4. The visitors ended on 221 for 9 with Cottrell taking 4 for 58, Jack Westlake 2 for 23 and a wicket each for Punter and Dave Leader.

The fourth eleven lost but PC UK failed to enter the result in time so it's tough to do a report!

Results - 2.6.12

The first eleven under new skipper Darryl Rebbetts still seek their first win of the season, despite the new captain scoring his maiden league century. Supported by ex-skipper Michael Gould's 31 and Stuart Carter's 47 not out, alongside Rebbetts 101 not out, the home side posted 247 for 5 in their 58 overs.

In reply East Grinstead got to the target 7 wickets down on what was ultimately a batsman-friendly pitch, with Benn Challen taking 4 for 64, Luke Vinter and Andy Lutwyche a wicket each to add to a run out.

The 2s are also yet to record their first victory having lost by 34 runs. Bowling first Worthing bowled the hosts out for 203, with Shane Felton (4 for 55) and Paul Westlake (4 for 36) inflicting much of the damage, youngsters Martyn Swift and Mayur Patel taking a wicket each.

Worthing fell short of the target with only John Kaye's 65 really looking threatening as they crumbled to 169 all out.

There was a victory though as the third team beat Brighton and Hove 3s at the Neville Ground. Worthing posted 226 for 4 with Lloyd Crathern scoring 74 and Tom Chambers 62 not out. Brighton and Hove were rolled for just 103 as Sanjeev Kalra taking 6 for 28, Dave Leader 2 for 19 and Luke Barnes 2 for 5. Convincing and huge congratulations to Kevin Punter's side.

The 4th team played at home to PC UK and batted first, putting together 198 for 8. Dave McAdam-Freud hit 84, ably supported by Matt Thorne (27) and Robbie Anderson (24 not out). PC UK reached their target 7 down, with Thorne starring by taking 6 for 25, Josh Hyde brabbing the other wicket.

The fifth team had a forgettable game at Crawley Eagles. The hosts batted first and crashed 303 for 5, Greg Harris taking 2 for 46, Josh Quintais 2 for 55 and a wicket for Harry Reeves. Worthing collapsed to just 47 all out with only Glenn Harris and Mark Sandell reaching double figures.

21.8.11 - U16As v East Grinstead - SJCF Fianl

Worthing (150 for 9 after 45 overs) beat East Grinstead (118 All Out) by 32 runs

It was Worthing and East Grinstead who emerged as best group winners from their respective pools and who would battle to be outright winners for this prestigious trophy. In accordance with tradition, the U16s Bowl final would be played at Arundel Castle, a fitting setting for this county-wide-tournament, not won by Worthing since 1993.

East Grinstead won the toss and elected to field hoping to take advantage of some morning dampness. East Grinstead’s two opening seamers, Ben Davies and Will Taylor, bowled tight lines as Worthing’s batsmen found runs hard to come by. But Worthing’s opening pair of Harry Dunn and Bradley Lewis continued their good form with the bat this week, keeping the score ticking over at a steady pace until the 7^th over when Bradley was undone by a good length delivery. East Grinstead quickly introduced Nathan Bailey into the attack and soon had Worthing further on the back foot as he bowled with pace and accuracy, taking 3 wickets in quick succession as Worthing slumped to 59 for 4 in the  19^th over. Meanwhile, Worthing’s Dan Stuart, who came in at the fall of the first wicket was beginning to amass a score which would ultimately be critical to Worthing’s total. By lunch the score hard reached 75 with Dan on 27 at the end of the 29^th over

The resumption saw Worthing’s Ollie Carpenter immediately take the attack to the bowlers as he hit 3 fours in the first over of the afternoon session. However, two wickets in as many balls from East Grinstead’s Josh Hampson again hindered Worthing’s progress as Worthing looked to build a defendable total in the closing overs. Supporting knocks from Martyn Swift and James Allen gelled nicely with Dan Stuart’s fine batting performance as he passed his own 50 mark in the 41^st over. Dan continued to play superbly until the end of the innings, seeing Worthing grab a valuable 35 runs off the last 5 overs and while the total of 150 from their allotted 45 overs seemed low it did at least give them a total to bowl at.

The East Grinstead innings started with some drama as Martyn Swift opened the attack for Worthing only to see Ben Davies get dropped on his first delivery and then bowl their No.2 with a yorker with his second. Despite this, East Grinstead took the attack to Worthing, scoring in good time, Ben Davies making the most of his opportunity, playing nicely off his front foot including one tremendous six over long on. One further wicket for Martyn Swift and leg-spinner Mason Crane had done little to dent East Grinstead’s progress and by the time the game had reached the tea interval at the end of the 22^nd over, East Grinstead were in a strong position at 92 for 3 with Ben Davies on 40 not out.

The final session saw a change to the shape of the innings and to Worthing’s fortunes as their spinners began to take hold. Having bowled well all week, taking 27 wickets between them, the triumvirate of James Allen, Mason Crane, and Harry Dunn again proved. Today it was the turn of James Allen to take the plaudits in a spell that saw him take a match-winning 6 wickets for 17 runs. With 2 wickets going down straight after tea, it was the crucial wicket of Ben Davies, finally out for a fine 51, which proved the turning point. His departure at the fall of 7^th wicket to a perfect leg cutter with the score on 114 left too much for East Grinstead’s remaining batsmen. James collected the last three wickets and, deservedly, the Man of the Match award for his efforts.

And so, in the final analysis, Worthing won by 32 runs to take the trophy back to the seaside town but credit must go to both sides who won through to the final; an achievement in itself in a county where cricket is still a strongly contested sport and played in the best of traditions by many junior players at all levels across Sussex. As such, a big thank you must go to the SJCF Committee, Arundel Castle C.C., all participating clubs, helpers and parents for making this tournament what it is. Long may it continue.

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