Bexhill rediscover winning touch

BEXHILL Cricket Club snapped a five game winless streak with a polished performance against Worthing on Saturday.

A marvellous fightback with the ball and a fine batting display hauled them back into Sussex Division Two's top six.

Chasing a total of 178, Bexhill secured maximum points for the loss of three wickets.

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Skipper Chris Topp said: "It was a very good day and I think it probably was our best performance of the season because we hit a bit of a rut leading up to it. I think it was really important to get a win."

Despite their run of poor results, Bexhill find themselves just 25 points behind second-placed Littlehampton and Topp is still targeting the upper reaches of the table.

He continued: "It's quite a close league so if we can keep putting the points on the board, we can be right up there. We've got a few more games before our free week so we need to accumulate some points now."

Many more performances such as this and perhaps they can push on up the standings, although they did get off to an inauspicious start in the field.

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Second-bottom Worthing took full advantage of a good wicket and lightning fast outfield as they raced to 92 off the first 20 overs. But led by man of the match Topp, who is sponsored by Tee K Express newsagents, Bexhill recovered to bowl their hosts out for an insufficient total.

Topp claimed 6-41 from 15.5 overs and received useful back-up from fellow slow bowler Jamie Wicks (3-44 off 12 overs) on a track which he felt wasn't really conducive to spin.

Bexhill's reply got off to the worst possible start with Richard May, who smashed 87 against Sidley the previous week, being sent back to the pavilion for a duck.

But Ian Ellis and John Holland began the recovery and, when Ellis was stumped for 22, Josh McLean went about compiling a match-winning innings.

Holland was bowled for 39 with the winning line in sight, but McLean (80 not out) and Jeremy Wassell ensured there were no more hiccups.