Bexhill target positive reaction

Bexhill will travel to Horsham in the Sussex Premier League today (Saturday) determined to put last weekend’s 172-run defeat at home to Brighton & Hove firmly behind them.

Horsham will also be eager to improve having lost by 161 runs away to Eastbourne in their first league game.

Cox said: “Last week’s gone and forgotten. I don’t think I will need to do much motivating; the boys will be very keen to show what they can do. We performed well there last year, showed a lot of character and that’s what I will be expecting.”

Bexhill were bowled out for just 56 in their defeat to Brighton, but Cox felt it was more a case of fine bowling from the opposition than poor batting from his side.

“I wouldn’t blame our batters at all; it was just magnificent bowling,” he continued. “There were maybe two or three in the top order that felt they could’ve played a different shot, but they bowled really well and there wouldn’t have been many sides in the league that would’ve dealt with it.

“We’ve not practised on a grass wicket yet and it was a bit of a baptism of fire, but points-wise it wasn’t a disaster.”

Bexhill did at least pick up eight points after taking nine wickets with the ball, although Brighton recovered from 7-2 and 52-4 to post 228-9 batting first.

“To be fair it was probably a 150 wicket,” Cox went on. “Our fielding wasn’t great - we dropped a couple of catches - but our bowling was acceptable, we bowled okay.

“Nick (Peters) did excellently and Dean (Crawford) was a bit unlucky not to get three or four wickets after having a couple of catches dropped. Our bowling’s not a concern and it’s produced the goods the last two years.”

Bexhill will be without Callum Guest tomorrow and they were waiting to find out the availability of Sussex professional Ashar Zaidi.

In other news, a “bench seat” in memory of Roger “Tub” Bechter is due to be unveiled by his partner, Christine Spray, with a tribute by former player and president Malcolm Pratt OBE during the tea interval of Bexhill’s 2nd XI match at home to Horsham today. Former team-mates of Bechter have clubbed together to purchase the bench following his recent death.

WEEKEND CRICKET FIXTURES - SATURDAY

Sussex Cricket League, 1st XI Premier Division (12.30): Horsham v Bexhill.

1st XI Division 2 (1): Lindfield v Crowhurst Park; Three Bridges v Hastings Priory.

1st XI Division 4 (1): Wisborough Green v Rye.

2nd XI Division 1 (1): Bexhill v Horsham; Hastings Priory v Three Bridges.

2nd XI Division 3 (East) (1): Crowhurst Park v Mayfield; Rye v Glynde & Beddingham.

East Sussex Cricket League (1.30), Division 1: Battle v Heathfield Park.

Division 2: Bells Yew Green v Iden; Laughton v Robertsbridge.

Division 3: Little Common Ramblers v Firle.

Division 4: Heathfield Park II v Bexhill III.

Division 5: Pett v Bells Yew Green II.

Division 6: Hastings Priory III v Hadlow Down MW; Robertsbridge II v Rotherfield; Udimore v Willingdon.

Division 7: Bexhill IV v Lewes Priory II; Iden II v Battle II.

Division 8: Forest Row II v Little Common Ramblers II; Uckfield Anderida II v Burwash Weald.

Division 9: Bells Yew Green III v Crowhurst Park III; Sidley v Chiddingly II.

Division 10: Bexhill V v Robertsbridge III; Westfield v Tunbridge Wells Borderers II.

Division 11: Newick IV v Rye III.

Division 12: Crowhurst Park IV v Bells Yew Green IV; Lewes St Michael’s III v Hastings Priory IV.

SUNDAY

Davidstow Village Cup, 2nd round (1): Crowhurst Park v Hellingly.

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