Bexhill rally to clinch draw

Chris Topp's team made it three games unbeaten courtesy of a resourceful batting display at home to the unbeaten promotion hopefuls Haywards Heath.

Topp said: "It was a good fightback from where I thought we were going to lose the game convincingly. We showed a lot of guts and determination which was a great effort."

Bexhill appeared in deep trouble when they lost Alan Cowley, bowled off the first ball of the innings, Richard May, Jeremy Wassell, whose two came from 37 balls, and Josh McLean for a combined total of just 19 runs.

But Steve Phillimore (38) and man of the match Ian Ellis (43) began the recovery.

The good work was continued by schoolboy talent Malcolm Johnson, who compiled an excellent 29 not out in his first innings for the front side.

Simon Bulteel chipped in with a remarkable 25 from 15 balls which included three fours and two sixes before Ian May (23 not out) joined Johnson to complete the rescue act, ending the innings on 187-8 in reply to Heath's score of 217-9.

Topp commented: "I didn't think the wicket was particularly good, but the middle and lower orders really chipped in. You've got to bat down to seven, eight, nine and we showed that we can do that.

"Malcolm Johnson was superb. Considering it was only his second game and first hit, he really stood up and it was an outstanding display."

Bexhill claimed a couple of relatively early wickets in the field, but Danny Hall (66), Steve Kingcome (29) and David Wood (41) batted Heath into a decent position.

Some late wickets from Simon Bulteel (3-43 from 14 overs) and Ian Ellis (3-113 from 26 overs) restricted Heath to a total Bexhill were confident of overhauling.

Despite turning in a performance full of gumption, Bexhill actually fell a place to seventh in the table, albeit only 27 points shy of second-placed Littlehampton.