Rotherfield: 180-9

Bells Yew Green : 179-7

Match drawn

BELLS Yew Green were left frustrated by their East Sussex Division Three relegation 60-pointer at Rotherfield on Saturday, as they fell an agonising two runs short of victory and had to settle for a draw.

It was a far cry from the start of the game as BYG had taken control and looked to be heading for an easy win, thanks to the bowling of Sanjay Patel, Finn Hulbert and Chris Fox.

Patel dismissed both Rotherfield openers while Hulbert added another wicket soon after, but it was Chris Fox who really put BYG in the driving seat as his three wickets destroyed the Rotherfield middle order and left them precariously placed at 86-7.

However, the Rotherfield tail launched an impressive rearguard action as yet again BYG failed to finish off their opponents when they had them on the ropes. However, the Rotherfield total of 180-9 gave them something to defend.

Mcinerney eased his way to 38 and Finn Hulbert blasted 30 quick runs as opener Dave Tapp accumulated a patient 37, but a flurry of wickets in the middle order set back the run chase and in the growing gloom BYG could not find their way over the line.

The draw leaves BYG eight points ahead of Rotherfield, with two games and 60 points left to play for.

Bells Yew Green IV: 263-9

Willingdon III: 106ao

BYG won by 157 runs

BELLS Yew Green club chairman Andy Brooks showed that, even though it has been 33 years since his first century for BYG, he had lost none of his run-making ability with an innings that oozed quality in this Division 12 match.

Against a lively Willingdon attack, Brooks patiently waited for the bad balls before dispatching them to the boundary.

He reached 135 before playing one shot too many and getting bowled, but by this time BYG were in a match-winning position.

Brooks was well supported by Chris Tomlinson (22) and Alex Harbourne (20) before quick cameos came from skipper Keith Boughton (17no) and Gary Stevens, whose 13no enabled BYG to declare early with 263 on the scoreboard.

Dave Baker did the early damage with the ball as he took 3-29 from his seven overs before the experience of Kamil Chowdhury, Ian Scott and Gary Stevens, who each took two wickets, helped seal a comfortable win by 157 runs for Bells Yew Green's fourths.

Bells Yew Green Sunday: 243-5

Buxted Park Sunday: 118ao

BYG won by 125 runs

BELLS Yew Green Sunday won this match by 125 runs and were too strong for a youthful Buxted Park outfit, at the Nursery Ground, on Sunday.

Dan Mcinerney and Will Rogers each got unbeaten 50s before retiring, decisions which allowed Ben Pryor (32), Ross Jefferies (35) and George Lovell (33no) to spend some time at the crease, as BYG amassed 243 from their 35 overs.

Opening with spin at both ends, Jeremy Knott (4-19 off seven overs) went back to the top of the wicket-taking charts, while George Lovell grabbed 2-14 from six overs. The occasional seam bowling of Ross Jefferies also took two wickets as Buxted Park were dismissed for 118.

The seconds were without a fixture on Saturday, while the thirds's game against Lewes was abandoned.