Priory win despite Guest hat-trick

Bexhill hat-trick hero Callum Guest bowling against Hastings Priory yesterday. Picture by Simon Newstead (SUS-140206-094356002)

Bexhill spinner Guest achieved the rare feat of taking three wickets in successive deliveries, but couldn’t prevent Priory winning by four wickets to book their place in the regional final of the ECB Royal London Club Championship.

After winning the toss and choosing to bat, hosts Bexhill totalled 198-7 from their 45 overs. Bexhill came out quite positively at the start with Tim Hambridge and Malcolm Johnson putting on 38 for the first wicket until the latter was undone by Finn Hulbert (1-33 off five overs).

Priory’s spinners then came on and bowled very well, captain George Campbell (2-35 off nine) dismissing Max Finzel (11) and Hambridge (34) within seven runs of each other to leave Bexhill 65-3.

Johnathan Haffenden (23) and Shawn Johnson (22) put on 44 for the fourth wicket, but Bexhill then lost four wickets for 26 runs to sit 135-7. Jack Coleman (2-26 off nine) and Cameron Smith (2-16 off six) were the successful Priory bowlers.

Cameron Burgon (39 not out) and Jamie Bristow-Diamond (24 not out) batted very well to compile an unbroken eighth wicket partnership of 63, which almost got Bexhill up to the 200 mark.

Hulbert was used as a pinch-hitter at the start of the Priory reply and duly got the visitors off to a fast start with 25 off just 18 balls in an opening stand of 44 with Harry Finch.

The in-form Leo Cammish then came to the crease and Priory looked to be cruising during a second wicket partnership of 83. Finch was given out LBW, though, for a run-a-ball 53 and the next two batsmen departed first ball as Guest (3-28 off nine) celebrated his hat-trick.

Elliot Hooper also went for a duck three runs later and with the score now 130-5, Bexhill would have felt right back in it. But Cammish was still going strong and number seven Jake Woolley gave him the support he needed.

The pair put on 65 for the sixth wicket until Woolley was caught behind off Shawn Johnson for 35 off 39 balls. Cammish was 64 not out at the end as Priory got home with nine-and-a-half overs to spare. Bristow-Diamond (1-41 off 6.3) and Josh Beeslee (1-41 off eight) were the other wicket-takers.