Bexhill display pleases Cox

Injured Bexhill batsman James Walker is helped off during last weekend's defeat at Horsham. Picture by Steve Robards (SUS-150518-174317001)

Although Bexhill went down by five wickets in their opening away fixture of the Sussex Premier League season on Saturday, Cox felt they produced a much-improved display.

He said: “Clearly we’re disappointed to lose, but it was a massive improvement. There were lots of positives and not very many negatives.

“After being bowled out for 56 the previous week, 225-6 was a great effort and I don’t think we would’ve produced a batting display like that last year.

“My only slight disappointment was everyone got a start and then got out until the two boys at the end (Johnathan Haffenden and Dean Crawford).

“It was a good, solid batting performance and we bowled okay. They were under pressure all the way through, but we dropped a couple of really important catches which I think ultimately cost us the game.

“I think we’re starting to find our feet and we looked a good side on Saturday. Although we lost, we still got good points from it.”

Having played a couple of well-established Premier League clubs in their opening two league games of the season, Bexhill will face a pair of top flight newcomers in their next two.

They will entertain Billingshurst tomorrow (Saturday, 12.30pm start) before travelling to Middleton next weekend. Billingshurst have won one and lost one so far.

“I’m very optimistic for the next two games,” continued Cox. “They’re quite key games for us obviously because I suspect they’re going to be in and around us.

“I’m keen to get a win on the board. Billingshurst are a bit of an unknown quantity and it will be interesting to see who turns up for them, but if we keep progressing as we are, bat well and bowl as we can, I would like to think we can expect a positive result.”

James Walker is expected to be out for 6-8 weeks with a hamstring injury sustained at Horsham and Neil Blatchly is set to take his place.

TODAY’S CRICKET FIXTURES

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

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

1st XI Division 4 (1): Rye v Stirlands.

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

2nd XI Division 3 (East) (1): Crawley Eagles v Rye; Hellingly v Crowhurst Park.

East Sussex Cricket League (1.30), Division 1: Lewes Priory v Battle.

Division 2: Hailsham v Iden; Robertsbridge v Barcombe.

Division 3: Little Common Ramblers v Chiddingly.

Division 4: Bexhill III v Hailsham II.

Division 5: Pett v Denton II.

Division 6: Nutley v Hastings Priory III; Ringmer II v Robertsbridge II; Wadhurst v Udimore.

Division 7: Battle II v Linden Park IV; Iden II v Bexhill IV.

Division 8: Burwash Weald v Selmeston & Alciston; Newick III v Little Common Ramblers II.

Division 9: Crowhurst Park III v Herstmonceux II; Sidley v Firle II.

Division 10: Denton II v Bexhill V; Robertsbridge III v Glynde & Beddingham III.

Division 11: Rye III v Ringmer III; Seaford IV v Pett II.

Division 12: Hastings Priory IV v Pevensey II; Linden Park V v Crowhurst Park IV.

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