Bexhill claim encouraging draw

A sub-standard display in their disappointing defeat to newcomers Pulborough two weeks ago prompted a number of players to voluntarily undertake an extra net session.

And if practice didn't quite make perfect, it certainly brought about a drastic improvement as Bexhill were pretty much Roffey's equals during a marvellous afternoon's cricket.

Bexhill finished on 206-9 in pursuit of their hosts' total of 229-7.

"We played well," was the opinion of skipper Steve Phillimore. "It was very encouraging. With 10 overs to go we were favourites and to win chasing a high score would have been a huge morale booster. I'm still disappointed we didn't win because we were in a winning position but wickets change the game."

And rarely more so than in this encounter. Had opener Hamish Russell, whose 68 represented Bexhill's highest individual score of the Sussex Division Two campaign, not had his stumps dislodged when in full-flight Bexhill may well have kept up with the required rate of little more than a run a ball on a small ground.

In the end though it was left to last pair Jack Munro and Mark Nightingale, who was earlier limited to just 28 deliveries (more than half of which were bowled well below optimum pace) in the field by a mysteriously inflicted foot injury, to hold out for their first draw of the 2004 campaign.

Without this problem to by far and away their best bowler in the Pulborough loss, Phillimore "didn't think they would have got 230".

But the rest of the bowlers dug in with Richard May bowling "his best spell" for the side while Munro continues to improve by the game. Australian Bryce Turnbull was also far more accurate as many of the four balls from the week before were eradicated by the whole attack.

May, late inclusion John Holland, Jeremy Wassell and Dave Munro all got starts with the bat but it needed someone to stay with East India Tandoori man of the match Russell for longer if Bexhill were to get home.

Bexhill entertain Stirlands on Saturday June 5, starting at 1.15pm.