Hove Medina batsman Steve Hartridge was out for 99 - but he thought he had already hit a ton.

Gutted Steve, 40, played a brilliant innings during Medina's West Sussex League match against Findon but was left red-faced when a miscalculation of four runs cost him making only his second ever career century.

The No.4 stroke-player hit a boundary that in his mind took him to 103 and passed the century mark in style.

He turned towards his team-mates in the pavilion to raise his bat and milk the applause - but there was silence.

Steve, who is club captain, complained: "Then I realised that I'd got it completely wrong and still needed one more to ensure the century."

Then looking for a single Steve aimed to chip the ball over mid-on but the ball cannoned off the middle of his bat and was caught on the boundary.

He admitted: "I was dreadfully disappointed. Chances to get a century don't come along too often so to not take this one was hard to swallow."

Steve's miscalculation was caused when an umpire was unsure of the batsman's tally.

"I asked an umpire how many runs I had," said Steve. "And he thought it was either 83 or 87. We didn't have a scoreboard showing batsmen's totals so I had to rely on my memory. I went with 87 and it was not until later that I found that was wrong."

The knock helped Medina to 189-9 and before Findon could bat the heavens opened and the match was abandoned.

Steve said: "My score doesn't count for anything now, although I've made sure it remains in the club's records."

Team-mate Reg Soffe lent a sympathetic ear to Steve after the match.

Reg said: "We thought he was about to raise his bat. At first we didn't have a clue what he was doing. Then we realised he was celebrating hitting a century.

"You have to feel sorry for him because if any innings deserved a century it was that one.

"Steve was playing some great shots. He must have cut about 40 runs."

There is some good news for the Hove Medina skipper. He is our Owzat! Cricketer of the Week and wins a case of London Pride beer.

We give a case of London Pride away every week to the cricketer who provides us with the top story.

Let us know your best stories by contacting me by phone (01273-544581), fax (01273-544594) or email (justin.allen@theargus.co.uk)