Williams hails effort as Billingshurst complete Horsham double

Horsham V Billingshurst 1/8/15 (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150308-154403008

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Billingshurst completed a delightful double over Horsham to boost their fortunes in avoiding an immediate return to Division 2.

The Premier Division new boys edged a thriller by just two runs over the league stalwarts at Cricketfield Road to deal their host’s outside title chances a real blow.

Hurst’s overseas Dhanushka Mitipolaarachchi hit an unbeaten 101 as Billingshurst made 210 after being put into bat, with Horsham coming home two runs shy of their total with 208.

The victory keeps Billingshurst out of the relegation places and 20 points ahead of Eastbourne, although ends Horsham’s impressive run and sees them drop to fifth.

Horsham V Billingshurst 1/8/15 (Pic by Jon Rigby) SUS-150308-154413008

Hurst skipper Ben Williams said: “It was a fantastic team effort from everybody in a game that could have gone either way at the end.

“Horsham have always been one of the best sides around and still are. The players in their side are hugely talented bunch at this level. But there are good players in every side and if they perform, then they might be slightly stronger on the day.

“The bowlers all bowled really well as they were 100-odd for two at one point, so credit to all the bowlers, they were excellent. Dhanushka obviously batted excellently as well for his hundred.”

Horsham captain James Johnson said: “It was obviously badly disappointing to lose to Billingshurst for the second time this season. Especially as we did all the hard work and got them out for 210.

“Everyone chipped in with a couple of wickets which was really pleasing.

“It it had been a game of football we’d have been 5-0 up at half-time and we ended up losing 6-5.”

Full reaction from both captains and match report in this week’s paper.

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