Hastings sink Bexhill to claim rare derby victory

James Pooley scored the only half-century of the match to help Hastings Priory to victory against Bexhill.

Hastings Priory's cricketers ended their barren run away to neighbours Bexhill with a 48-run win yesterday (Saturday).

It was Priory’s first Sussex Premier League victory at The Polegrove since 2010 and their first league win anywhere against Bexhill in six attempts.

Priory were all out for 211 in 45.1 overs after losing the toss and being asked to bat. As is often the case with Priory, the score was based on solid contributions from several players, the best of them from James Pooley.

The quick scoring opener shared in partnerships of 45 with Jason Finch (21), 51 with returning Sussex academy prospect Joe Billings (28) and 34 with captain Tom Gillespie until being third man out, with the score 130, for 60 off 57 balls with five fours and four sixes - an innings which was key to the overall outcome.

Shawn Johnson had a decent game for Bexhill, taking four wickets with the ball and scoring 28 with the bat. Picture courtesy Andy Hodder

Gillespie - fresh off a rapid half-century in the previous weekend’s victory over Brighton & Hove - went on to make 26, but his dismissal to Shawn Johnson sparked a collapse from 156-3 to 178-9, the victims including Leo Cammish (15) and John Morgan (11).

There followed an important last wicket partnership of 33 between Finn Hulbert, who made a valuable 29 off 33 balls, and Jed O’Brien (5 not out) which took the score past the 200 mark.

Johnson was the most successful Bexhill bowler, following up his impressive three-wicket haul against Cuckfield the previous weekend with a very good 4-40 from 15 overs.