Bexhill tackle champs in ‘high hopes’

Tom Powell smashes Joe Barnett down the ground for four during Bexhill's victory over Eastbourne in the ECB Royal London Club Championship on Sunday. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-141205-100642002)

Premier League new boys Bexhill are optimistic of springing a surprise away to Preston Nomads tomorrow (Saturday).

Bexhill first team coach Ian Cox said: “They’ll definitely be favourites, but I think we’ll go there with high hopes.”

Although Nomads have won the league five times in the last six years, they only scraped past Division Two side Middleton in the Gray-Nicolls Sussex T20 Cup and were outplayed in a league draw away to East Grinstead last weekend.

“They struggled in the T20 (Cup) and had a nil-pointer last weekend so if we can get our batting right and bowl like we have been, we’ve got half a chance,” Cox added.

“Our bowling has got quite a bit of variation and that’s our strength. I think our batting potential is really strong, but we’ve still got a bit to learn. We tend to lose wickets in bunches.

“We just need a little bit of batting and cricket knowledge if you like rather than batting skill. We worked a lot on that last year and we’ll continue to do so. The spirit in the team is brilliant.”

Callum Guest (work) is unavailable and the only doubt is Johnathan Haffenden (thigh) as Bexhill expect to name the same side which lost at home to Horsham last Saturday.