John stars as England beat Aussies

John Anderson scored 67 for the England over-70s team against Australia

A Bexhill-based cricketer played a key role in the England over-70s team beating their Australian counterparts.

John Anderson scored 67 and shared an opening partnership of 147 as England won the second game of the three-match series by eight wickets.

Australia scored 235-7 from their 50 overs batting first at Three Bridges CC. But Anderson and fellow opener Neil Blackey (78) took advantage of a good batting wicket and being allowed too many singles to put England firmly on course to reach their target.

Anderson hit four boundaries in an 89-ball knock which only came to an end when he was stumped after overbalancing. England proceeded to knock off the runs with 20 balls to spare.

The victory gave England an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after they won the opening game by 64 runs. The third match was abandoned due to rain without a ball bowled.

Anderson, of Springfield Road, seemed to take a liking to the Australian bowling and the Three Bridges ground because he scored a fifty for Sussex at the same venue and against the same opponents two days later.

The 71-year-old is now looking forward to playing at the BrightonandHoveJobs.com County Ground for the first time as Sussex over-70s face Norfolk & Suffolk on Tuesday.

See Friday’s Bexhill Observer for the full article.