Bexhill exact revenge over Park

Elliot Guest bowls for Bexhill as Crowhurst Park batsman Bradley Payne looks on. Picture by Simon Newstead

This Sussex Cricket League Division Two game was not quite as dramatic as the low scoring first meeting between the sides, but Park were second best against promotion chasers Bexhill at The Polegrove.

Winning the toss on a blustery afternoon, Park decided to bat. Bradley Payne and Martin Barry put on 24 for the first wicket before both fell in successive overs. Ed Smissen was caught at second slip and Park looked in a spot of trouble at 49-3 off 16 overs.

Powell and Clive Tong, however, played controlled innings to take Park along to 125 until Tong was caught and bowled for a solid 27. Powell by now was looking in superb touch and raced along to his fifty. Nick Taylor provided fine support, as did Jon Peters.

Paul Brookes and Nick Peters put on another useful unbroken 25-run partnership to leave Park relatively happy with their total of 219-8. Callum Guest was the most successful Bexhill bowler with 4-68, Andrew Williams took 2-44, and there was a wicket each for Joe Cox and Jamie Wicks.

After a quick shower at tea, Payne got Park the early wicket they wanted, tempting Tim Hambridge to edge one behind. Guest was bowled by a sharp ball from Tong to leave Bexhill 39-2 off 10 overs, but runs were flowing freely.

A farcical run out ended Malcolm Johnson’s (38) stay at the crease, although this was to be Powell’s last act. The game was halted before Powell went to hospital with a painful finger injury and immediately afterwards, the rain fell again.

Many thought this would be the end of proceedings, but it was merely another passing shower. Bexhill benefitted most from the rain break as Johnathan Haffenden (57) and Shawn Johnson built a superb unbroken 160 partnership with Johnson scoring 103 off just 76 balls as Bexhill stormed home in 35 overs.

Standings (all played 16 matches): 1 Eastbourne 388pts, 2 Goring-by-Sea 344, 3 BEXHILL 343, 4 Findon 333, 5 Ifield 290, 6 CROWHURST PARK 269, 7 St James’s Montefiore 231, 8 Middleton 228, 9 Pulborough 162, 10 Glynde & Beddingham 136.