Littlehampton had a free week in Sussex League Division 2, so Challen played for his former club, where brother Gareth is now captain.

Benn Challen guided Clymping past Wickers' 116 with a 78-run sixth-wicket stand with Aussie Andy Danson after Clymping had slipped to 16-4, then 41-5. He finished unbeaten on 60, with six fours and four sixes and Danson was 36 not out.

Summers said: "Benn was definitely the difference between the two teams. We think we'd have had a chance of winning if he hadn't played — and we really needed the points.

"We hadn't noticed he was playing until he came on to bowl and Paul Grennan and I just looked at each other. We remembered he scored 130 at our place a few years ago.

"It's frustrating that he played, especially because it was against us, but there's nothing in the league rules which says he can't.

"But I certainly wouldn't bring someone in just for one game like that because it's unfair on the player who loses their place."

Clymping skipper Gareth Challen said: "Since the first three or four games, our side has kept changing, and this week we took the opportunity to play Benn and Chris Green.

"And they both played at Clymping for a lot longer than they've been at Littlehampton."

Wickers slipped back down to third from bottom with the defeat.

In the same division, Portslade moved into sixth place with what captain Sam Jones called a "perfect team performance" against high-flying Horsham Trinity.

After being put into bat, Portslade rattled up 277-6 from their 49 overs before they dismissed Trinity for 197.

Clayton Murray blasted 88, with 13 fours, for Portslade before he was out looking to reach his century in the closing overs. He put on 98 for the fourth-wicket with Tom Lowry, who hit 25.

Alex Smith then grabbed five wickets and Tom Van Der Neut three in an excellent bowling performance. Skipper Jones also took four catches, all at mid-off.

Jones said: "It was an excellent team performance, with the odd stand-out.

"Clayton was on 85 with three overs left, so we told him how many he needed because I had visions of him being 96 or 97 not out. But he was out trying to get to his hundred. He and Tom Lowry batted really well, and Tom Van Der Neut was unlucky not to take more than three wickets.

He got so many inside edges, and also had a catch dropped off him."

Portslade host East Preston on Saturday.


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