Sidley call shots in one-sided derby

The visitors amassed a daunting 308-4 from just 44 overs, and in reply Bexhill could muster only 155-8 in hanging on for a draw.

Bexhill skipper Steve Phillimore gave a typically honest assessment of a match that Sidley all but won. "It was the most one-sided (derby) I've played in," he said.

"They out-played us totally. We just played very poorly and, credit to them, they played well. They just tore us apart in the early part of their innings and we couldn't do anything about it. When we batted, even bowling as well as they did, on a good wicket, fast outfield and with attacking fields set 155 was a poor effort. Realistically, we weren't going to score 300 but we should easily have scored 200."

Phillimore's Sidley counterpart Scott Woodroffe said: "It was just one of those games. We played all the cricket but just couldn't get the last couple out. In the middle part of the innings we beat the bat so many times but couldn't find the edge. Maybe on another day we might have done it. I'm sure Steve Phillimore will say that he wasn't helped by the players he had missing but, to be honest, it was the most one-sided derby match I've played in."

The tone for the afternoon was set as early as the second over when Tyrone Wildman blasted successive no balls from Adam Wickenden to the boundary en route to a 28 run over. The hard-hitting veteran settled down after the early burst and, together with Pakistani Faisal Naveed, set about a measured but nonetheless complete destruction of the Bexhill bowlers.

Wildman eventually departed for 94, scored at better than a run a ball, but Naveed (127) carried on to complete his first Sussex League century although he did endure one heart-stopping moment - a tough chance being put down at square leg when on 99.

Naveed picked up where he left off with the ball as well, putting pressure on the Bexhill top-order along with the ever-impressive Peter King.

The home side actually began well though, reaching 50 for the loss of just one wicket at a rate of around five an over, with Lloyd Waughman hitting 31. But batsmen quickly came and went thereafter as Wildman (3-19) reduced Bexhill to 75-5.

Credit must go to the lower order of Neil Broughton (33) and Phillimore though who blocked out the final 20 overs for the draw.