BEXHILL SUFFER ANOTHER NARROW DEFEAT

An opening partnership of 90 was the only palpable difference between these two well matched sides as the hosts were sunk by four wickets.

Captain Steve Phillimore said: "We played well in patches but we lacked that little bit of spark, something happening when we were fielding. It's nearly there but we're just lacking that something. We had about four half chances of taking an early wicket.

"In hindsight we were 20 runs short - 189 gave us a score on the board. Our score was adequate, it wasn't good. But maybe if we had bowled and fielded better it would have looked a bit more than adequate."

After Phillimore won the toss and made the almost obligatory decision to bat, Dave Munro, returning to his more accustomed role at the top of the order, continued the fine form he demonstrated in making 34 at Roffey last week with a patient 51 to set them off on the right note. Aussie number three Peter Lewis (39) again weighed in with useful runs before the returning Martin Phillimore (31) hauled them up to 189-7 at the end of their 54 overs.

Toby Chassaud (49) led the chase while the in-form Ed McGregor (44) and Tom Burton (42) ushered them past the winning post with five overs and four wickets to spare despite the heroics of Matthew Blackman (4-44).