East Preston win at Broadwater

After a frustrating start, with their first three games all rained off and then a defeat to Southwater last weekend, East Preston captain Richard Laker was pleased with the victory.

He said: “It was a great game to be involved in and both teams really enjoyed the day.

“Having been asked to bat, I felt we applied ourselves brilliantly at the top of the order and the middle order contributed well to set a challenging total.

“Although Broadwater went about the run chase well, I do feel our bowling was not up to scratch and we allowed them to get more runs than we would normally give in this situation, so we still have work to do on our bowling.

“Once we decided to take the pace off the ball with myself and Colin Smith, the picture changed dramatically and with the exception of a fortuitous 44 from their No 10, we were in control and the win came as expected.

“It was a good, all-round performance, particular mention to both Tim Miles and Colin with the bat, and myself and Jack Sunderland with the ball as we made the difference in the end.”

Gary Weedon (26) and Miles got EP off to a strong start with a 68-run stand for the first wicket, before Miles added 46 for the second wicket with Smith.

Miles fell for 61 after hitting 13 fours, before Smith and Jack Sunderland (21) added 53 for the third wicket and Smith then put on 61 for the fifth wicket with Dan Williams (27).

Smith finished unbeaten on 76 after striking nine fours and one six off 90 balls.

EP reduced Broadwater to 42-3, before Nigel Waller and Mark Sinsbury put on 92 for the fourth wicket. Waller was the first of Laker’s five wickets after hitting 72 from only 62 deliveries with 15 fours.

Waller’s dismissal led to four wickets falling for five runs and Fitzroy Hodges also fell soon afterwards.

Broadwater’s ninth-wicket partnership between Sinbury and Shohal Ahmed (44) held EP up with a 60-run stand, before Ahmed and Mark Butler were out in quick succession, both to Laker, as Sinsbury finished unbeaten on 55.

Laker took 5-41, Sunderland grabbed 2-35 and Mark Coskin and Smith also picked up a wicket each.