Shawn Johnson in Sussex League action for Bexhill in 2019 [Chichester Observer]
Shawn Johnson has been tipped to become a major player for Calmore Sports in Southern Premier Division 1 this summer.
The former Bexhill all-rounder announced himself on the local scene in devastating style by dominating Calmore’s dramatic penultimate ball Voneus Village Cup win over neighbours Paultons.
He hit 79 with the bat and later took 5-34 with the ball, his five-wicket haul including the prize scalp of Nigel Feltham, who was threatening to win the second round tie on his own for Paultons.
Johnson arrived at Loperwood Park from East Sussex at the tail end of the truncated 2020 season, having been a dominant force for Bexhill, for whom he scored over 4,000 Sussex League runs, frequently scoring over 500 in a season, and took over 150 wickets.
“Shawn is a decent player,” said former Horsham captain Paul Baker, who regularly umpires in the Sussex Premier League.
“He should be commended for remaining loyal to Bexhill as the club went into decline. He’s a Premier league standard player, without a doubt.”
Johnson picked up the baton with Calmore wobbling at 26-3, but his century partnership with James Rose (65 not out) pointed the hosts to a competitive 190-6.
Left-armer Steve Wright conceded only six runs off his eight overs to put Paultons behind the rate, but Feltham quickly addressed any sluggishness in the scoring rate by blazing seven sixes off Ben Perry and Mike West, 58 of his brutally struck 78 coming in boundaries.
There was relief in the Calmore camp when Feltham (at 149-4) became Johnson’s second victim, but when the rain came conditions became extremely difficult for all concerned and more wickets fell.
Paultons needed nine to win off Johnson’s last over, but lost three wickets in successive balls (one was a run out) to finish 186 all out and give Calmore a nervous but exciting four-run victory. They host Sarisbury Athletic in the county semi-finals on Sunday week.
The former Bexhill all-rounder announced himself on the local scene in devastating style by dominating Calmore’s dramatic penultimate ball Voneus Village Cup win over neighbours Paultons.
He hit 79 with the bat and later took 5-34 with the ball, his five-wicket haul including the prize scalp of Nigel Feltham, who was threatening to win the second round tie on his own for Paultons.
Johnson arrived at Loperwood Park from East Sussex at the tail end of the truncated 2020 season, having been a dominant force for Bexhill, for whom he scored over 4,000 Sussex League runs, frequently scoring over 500 in a season, and took over 150 wickets.
“Shawn is a decent player,” said former Horsham captain Paul Baker, who regularly umpires in the Sussex Premier League.
“He should be commended for remaining loyal to Bexhill as the club went into decline. He’s a Premier league standard player, without a doubt.”
Johnson picked up the baton with Calmore wobbling at 26-3, but his century partnership with James Rose (65 not out) pointed the hosts to a competitive 190-6.
Left-armer Steve Wright conceded only six runs off his eight overs to put Paultons behind the rate, but Feltham quickly addressed any sluggishness in the scoring rate by blazing seven sixes off Ben Perry and Mike West, 58 of his brutally struck 78 coming in boundaries.
There was relief in the Calmore camp when Feltham (at 149-4) became Johnson’s second victim, but when the rain came conditions became extremely difficult for all concerned and more wickets fell.
Paultons needed nine to win off Johnson’s last over, but lost three wickets in successive balls (one was a run out) to finish 186 all out and give Calmore a nervous but exciting four-run victory. They host Sarisbury Athletic in the county semi-finals on Sunday week.
