Clymping captain Green targets one more victory for survival

CLYMPING Cricket Club captain Chris Green is targeting victory at home to bottom-of-the-table Broadwater on Saturday to ensure his side do not end up in a relegation battle.

Clymping, who are in fourth place in West Sussex Invitation League Division 1, have two matches left after the Broadwater match and lead their opponents by 43 points and are 38 points above second-from-bottom Serendib.

From having their sights set on the top end of the table earlier in the season, unavailability issues have caused Clymping to struggle in their last few games and, after losing to Southwater on Saturday, Green said: “From looking up a few weeks ago, we’re now looking down.

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“I think, realistically, that we need one more win from our three games to ensure we stay up.

“With the team we have had available in recent weeks, looking for wins has been a little bit out of reach.

“But we’ve got players back available this week and it’s a game we’re targeting to win.

“If we can pick up a positive result, we can relax a bit and enjoy the last couple of games.

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“But, if we lose the next one or two, things could get very close at the bottom.”

After winning the toss for five of their first six games, Green has now lost the toss six matches in a row and Clymping were stuck into bat on a damp wicket on Saturday.

Andrew Mitchell blasted four fours and three sixes as he top-scored with an unbeaten 52 as Clymping posted 183-7 off their 49 overs.

Green added 30, Andy Wilkinson 28 and Stuart Hanks 20.

Southwater then had overseas star Johann Brouwer to thank as they chased down the target with 10 balls to spare.

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Brouwer crashed 17 fours and one six as he hit 107 not out and put on an unbroken stand of 138 for the third wicket with Paul Osborne, who finished 46 not out.

Mitchell took both the Southwater wickets to fall.

Green said: “We had a heavily weakened team out again and it was a bit of a nightmare.

“Getting 11 players out in itself was an achievement and I even had to drag my dad (Roger) out of retirement and he batted really well, did what he needed to and gave us a platform.

“Our aim was to post a competitive total – we did that and it gave us something to bowl at but Johann Brouwer batted really well and didn’t give any chances.

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“We lost the toss again and were put into bat on a wet wicket and the sun came out in the afternoon and the wicket was easier to bat on for their innings. We never gave up, though, and at one time a draw looked possible, which would have been a fantastic result.”

Clymping have Gary Tester, Craig Johnson, Chris Hanks and Gareth Challen back available for Saturday’s match with Broadwater, who could be without Graham Waller and Nigel Waller. They have both been handed two-game bans by the league after the outcome of a disciplinary hearing following the abandonment of the Crawley Eagles versus Broadwater game.

They have both appealed the bans, though, and the appeal hearing will take place tomorrow (Friday).

East Preston had their free week on Saturday but remained second in the Division 1 table after Crawley Eagles drew with Felbridge.

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EP are now seven points ahead of Eagles with a game in hand, and are at second-from-bottom Serendib on Saturday.

Wisborough Green were crowned Division 1 champions on Saturday with their seven-wicket win over Southwick.