Half centuries by George Haley and Hugo Burdon followed by an excellent all-round bowling performance were key as Bexley progressed in the ECB National Club Championship.
Being holders can put a target on a team’s back but it didn’t worry Bexley as they eased through the second round of group fifteen with a comprehensive home victory.
Opening bowler Toby Porter gave the visitors an early advantage by dismissing three of Bexley’s top four cheaply, including captain Matt Stiddard for a duck.
However, Australian overseas player, Burdon, followed up his first round century with another solid knock. He looked totally in control until he drove in the air straight to Max Wright at cover.
By this stage, Ben Aldred had also departed leaving Bexley with work to do at 100 for 5 at the half way stage of their knock.
Haley then took on the responsibility of holding the innings together, scoring 64, before being run out attempting an all run four off the penultimate ball of the innings. Two runs off the final ball took them to 198 for 9 from their allocation of forty overs. Porter finished with 3 for 50.
In response, the visitors went on the attack with Oxfordshire’s Marcus Campopiano being particularly harsh on any delivery not on the spot. Jas Singh kept his head and made the important breakthrough when getting one through his defence and scattering his stumps for 25.
After that, East Molesey lost wickets regularly. The other opener, Sam Burge was next to go when running for a single but partner Max Wright wasn’t interested and Haley threw to wicket-keeper Aldred who had plenty of time to whip off the bails.
Captain Nick Stevens was bowled by Freddie Foster before Wright followed, caught behind by Aldred off Ahmed Jamal. It then became a procession as all five bowlers got amongst the wickets without needing assistance from fielders.
Andrew Westphal hit a bright and breezy 20 before the match ended when he missed a reverse sweep off the bowling of Foster, and East Molesey were bowled out for 123. Singh returned the best figures of 3 for 23, Foster took 2 for 14, Jamal 2 for 15, Anish Patel 1 for 33, and Aiden Griggs 1 for 36.
Pictures supplied by Steve Griggs.