First win was a ‘massive boost’

Bexhill pulled off a much-needed five-wicket victory at home to Three Bridges on Saturday to get their Sussex Premier League campaign up and running.

“It’s a massive boost,” said Bexhill first team coach Cox. “To win a big game under pressure is what we needed. It just shows we can do it.

“I think sometimes there’s a little bit of lack of belief in some players, but Saturday’s dispelled that and hopefully we can go on from there.”

Cox had said before the Bridges game that Bexhill would be looking to win two of their four matches before the midway point in their league season.

He is now hoping to win one or two of the next three, starting with a trip to second-placed East Grinstead on Saturday, for which influential all-rounder Callum Guest is expected to return.

Bexhill have a home double header the following weekend, incidentally, against local rivals Hastings Priory on the Saturday and the Sussex Development XI on the Sunday.

They also have two games this weekend because Eastbourne will visit The Polegrove for a Gray-Nicolls Sussex T20 Cup quarter-final on Sunday.

“The T20 is a bit of an added bonus,” added Cox. “I think we can just go out there and enjoy it, and that’s when you play your best cricket. We fear no-one in that format and we really fancy our chances.

“If we get another win over them (Bexhill beat Eastbourne in the ECB Royal London Club Championship earlier in the season), it will set us up well for when we play them at our place in the league.”

The T20 clash will get underway from 3.30pm after the Gray-Nicolls Sussex 2nd XI T20 Cup quarter-final between the two clubs at 12noon.