In-form Bexhill continue winning run

Bexhill Cricket Club's first team chalked up another comprehensive victory on Saturday, to the delight of the travelling supporters.
Shawn Johnson starred with bat and ball in Bexhill's victory away to East GrinsteadShawn Johnson starred with bat and ball in Bexhill's victory away to East Grinstead
Shawn Johnson starred with bat and ball in Bexhill's victory away to East Grinstead

Bexhill totally dominated from ball one and never looked in any danger en route to a six-wicket win away to East Grinstead in the Sussex Premier League.

Grinstead won the toss and batted on a swelteringly hot day and what looked a superb wicket, but Shawn Johnson (3-36 from 8.4 overs) took two wickets with the score just four.

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Bexhill kept taking wickets at regular intervals as the spinners applied the pressure. Joe Cox (7-0-30-1) bowled Timothy Cummins (21) with the score 42, Sam Roberts dismissed Alex Evans (26) in the same fashion 12 runs later and when Josh Beeslee (13-4-47-1) got rid of Will Adkin for a duck, Grinstead were 59-5.

That became 92-6 when Roberts had Darryl Rebbetts caught behind by Malcolm Johnson for 15 and only a seventh wicket partnership of 67 really held Bexhill up.

Roberts made the breakthrough by having Ian Sturmer caught behind for 41 and then claimed his fourth victim before another run had been added, trapping Bradley Hatchett lbw for a duck.

Number five Ollie Graham continued on to make 75 until falling to Shawn Johnson (both of whom are among the best young players in the league) with the score 185.

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Daniel Snape (15 not out) took Grinstead past the 200 mark and they declared two balls before the end of the end of their 58-over allocation on 201-9, denying Bexhill the chance to pick up two more points for taking the final wicket.

Roberts again finished with outstanding figures, this time 23-7-56-4, but the front four bowlers all bowled well.

In reply, Malcolm Johnson (54 in 71 balls) and Roberts (49 in 80 balls) forged a magnificent 104-run partnership for the first wicket with a mixture of boundaries, defence and quick singles, although Roberts by now looked like he was running in quicksand.

As often happens, Roberts departed and Johnson went in the next over, soon followed by Callum Guest, and Bexhill were suddenly 117-3.

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But a 59-run partnership between the increasingly confident Shawn Johnson (40 not out in 36 balls), who never looked in trouble, and captain Johnathan Haffenden (39 in 59 balls) got Bexhill back on track before Ethan Guest (20 not out in 19 balls) and Johnson secured the victory with six overs to spare, Bexhill finishing up on 205-4.

Standings (played 12 matches unless stated): 1 Horsham 251pts, 2 Cuckfield 236, 3 Roffey (11) 233, 4 BEXHILL (11) 215, 5 East Grinstead 194, 6 HASTINGS PRIORY 192, 7 Preston Nomads 167, 8 Brighton & Hove 152. 9 Billingshurst 119, 10 Worthing 100.

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