Burgess Hill lost a crucial game against Bexhill at the weekend leaving them on the brink of relegation going into the final week.
Winning the toss Hill opted to bat despite missing a host of their batting line up from previous weeks. The fragility of the batting order showed as wickets fell regularly, only Kevin Ramsay (55) showing any resilience as Hill slipped to 65-7. Peter Billinghay joined Ramsay and the tailed did indeed wag as Billinghay hit 34, Ben Churchyard 8 and Niall Murphy 10 not out to take Hill to a total they could at least bowl at 147 all out.
Bexhill started solidly with Neil Blatchly opeing and regular 1st team player James Walker drafted in to give the batting line-up some strength. Andrew Ifill bowled three tight overs without breakthrough whilst Joe Maskell beat the outside edge with regularity but without luck. Hugh Warmisham came on and struck early removing Blatchly lbw. Peter Billinghay found new batsman Jamie Wicks’ edge and was safely held by first slip Ramsay. When Warmisham bowled Walker for 36 Hill had hope of a win with Bexhill sitting precariously at 68-3. Tom Powell survived a few scares and new partner Steve Phillmore started watchfully before exploding into his stride to find the boundary with regularity. In no time at all the game got away from Hill as Powell and Phillmore comfortably took Bexhill to a seven wicket win.
The win leaves Hill 23 points off safety so nothing less than a 30 point win away at top of the table Haywards Heath and low point scoring performances from Brighton and Hove and Eastbourne will see them relegated.