Arundel take away derby-day honours

Littlehampton had started the day well as Michael Askew hit his maiden league century, which allowed the hosts to declare four overs early on 244-6 from 45 overs.

However, Littlehampton skipper Dan Rive was then disappointed with his side’s bowling display as Arundel reached their target with 17 balls to spare as Joel Crook struck 106.

After losing the toss, Littlehampton were put into bat and Tom Lee and Askew shared a 78-run opening stand before the former fell for 29, caught and bowled by Neil Chitty.

After Andy Greig was out for four, Askew and former Arundel captain Ally James put on 112 for Littlehampton’s second wicket.

James was caught and bowled by Kieran Hornsby for 61, after hitting seven fours and two sixes, before Chris Heberlein fell for a duck with no addition to the score.

Askew was dismissed for 116, after smashing 19 fours and one six from 131 balls, with the score on 221, before Littlehampton finished their innings on 244-6.

Hornsby led the way with the ball for Arundel with 3-61 and Chitty picked up 2-56.

Crook was then the mainstay of Arundel’s innings as he shared two half-century partnerships.

Rive dropped a difficult chance at square leg when he was in the 20s, before Littlehampton had a caught behind appeal turned down off Amjad Mohsin when he was in the 30s.

Crook put on 55 for the opening wicket with skipper Joe Bain, who was first to fall when he was bowled by Heberlein for 31.

The dismissals of Hornsby (ten), David Wells (11) and Mark Barry (nought) left Arundel 113-4 but Crook then added 93 for the fifth wicket with Alex Moore.

Moore was caught behind by wicketkeeper Askew for 45, after hitting six fours and two sixes, and Crook then fell for 106 when he was bowled by Heberlein after striking 17 fours off 124 balls.

Jacob Temple blasted 25 from only 13 balls, though, to take Arundel to victory and keep them second in the table, nine points behind leaders Southwater, who have a game in hand.

Crook is now the division’s leading runscorer, with 315, 23 more than Littlehampton’s Lee.