Dominic Clapp today backed a revolution in Sussex League points-scoring, despite the fact it might have cost him a century.

Clapp was left on 99 not out as the Brighton and Hove side he captains successfully chased 148 to beat East Grinstead, having invited them to bat first.

Revised scoring structures mean teams can now score bonus points after winning the toss and inserting the opposition.

Brighton's bowlers dismissed Grinstead so cheaply that Clapp, a former Hampshire and Sussex batsman, did not have time to complete his 13th league ton.

But he reckons the new structure can only encourage intelligent captaincy.

The handful of skippers who put opponents in last Saturday would no doubt agree.

Previously, teams who opted to field first were not allowed bonus points.

The league stuck by that system for years in a bid to dissuade teams from fielding first, concentrating on defensive cricket rather than taking wickets and then looking to either win in a run chase or block out for a draw.

This season, teams can still score bowling points after opting to field first but the bonuses do not kick in until six wickets have been taken Clapp said: "It's a much better rule. It means, when you win the toss, you now make a cricket decision rather than just saying we'll bat' even if you're playing on a green seamer.

"At this time of year, I would expect to see a few sides putting the others in because there's something in the wicket.

"As the season goes on, teams will bat first.

"You can't just put a side in and look to save runs. If they get 225-5, you don't get any bowling points.

"When I put a team in, I'm still backing us to take ten wickets.

"The other factor is that it's a 110-over game, so the sooner you bowl the other team out the more overs you get in return.

"We got Grinstead out in the 55th so we we got 55 overs to bat."

Brighton got home well within that to maintain their title push, which they aim to continue at Littlehampton tomorrow.

Clapp, though, admitted: "I didn't know I was getting that close to 100.

"We only have the team total on our scoreboard at Brighton and it was cold, so people were watching from the pavilion rather than sitting outside.

"We just wanted to win the game. When I walked in they told me I got 99 and it was mixed emotions but I'll get other chances to score 100."