Portslade chased down Clymping's total of 194 for the loss of just five wickets in 33.3 overs, and Jones, whose side are now fourth in the table, said: "We were excellent in every department, apart from a couple of early mistakes which we recovered from.

"Luke (Jones) bowled well, and it was the right decision to put them in first.

"They should have got even fewer runs than they did, but for the misfields (which included Clayton Murray dropping Gareth Challen when he was on eight], but, in the end, it didn't matter."

Portslade won the toss, stuck Clymping into bat on a bowler-friendly wicket, and dismissed them for 194.

Once openers Roger Green and Kim Dean had fallen, captain Gareth Challen top-scored in Clymping's innings with a quickfire 54. His half-century included nine fours and a huge six off Aussie Andy Reid, who took two wickets for 49 runs.

Clymping's own Australian, Andrew Danson, hit 42, his fourth successive score above 35, before he was one of Luke Jones' four victims. Jones finished with four for 37 runs from 17 overs.

Portslade made an lightning start to their reply, and raced to 18-0 after only seven balls. Reid saw fellow opener Jack Packham depart cheaply but then put on 55 for the second wicket with Tom Van Der Neut.

Reid then added 40 for the third wicket with Clayton Murray to swing the match firmly in Portslade's favour, before Reid fell to Karl Pierce for a 74-ball 73, which included 12 fours.

Martin Aylward and Sam Jones were then out in quick succession, before Murray and Paul Glover guided Portslade home with more than 12 overs to spare. Murray finished unbeaten on 61, with 11 boundaries, and Glover hit 34 not out, with seven fours.

Clymping captain Gareth Challen said: "This was our worst display of the season. We batted poorly and our bowling lacked conviction. We looked tired and the title is now beyond us.

"We now have to beat Horsham Trinity on Saturday, hopefully to seal second place, but that is still a disappointment after we had genuine title hopes."

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