Arundel Festival of Cricket hailed a success

They clinched a nerve-racking two-wicket victory over Durham in the County Championship on Saturday and then enjoyed a comfortable win over Northamptonshire in the CB40 competition on Sunday.

The first game of the festival, last Monday against Kent, was rained off. After the ground staff worked long and hard, play started on time for the Championship match on Wednesday.

SUSSEX coach Mark Robinson was pleased with how things went at Arundel, even if the final day of the Championship match was a little nerve-racking.

He said: “It was not good for the heart and not good for the grey hairs but we got over the line.

“The weather played its part over the five days, which made batting difficult on a very slow, turgid wicket and the outfield was very slow, so it was difficult.

“They were good crowds at Arundel and we like playing there. It’s a good place to play.”

The Friends of Arundel Castle Cricket Club secretary Joe Hudson admitted this season has been the most challenging weather-wise, although he was pleased an exciting week of cricket was had.

He said: “In my 11 seasons at the Arundel Castle Ground, this has been the most challenging, weather wise.

“Despite that, and the disappointment of last Monday, when the CB40 against Kent didn’t even start because of the rain, we’ve managed to have a full and exciting week of cricket, culminating in Sunday’s match against Northants, held in stunning sunshine.”

For a full report and more pictures see this week’s (July 26) edition of the Littlehampton Gazette, Worthing or Shoreham Herald.