EP fall short due to lack of spinners

L27771712 East Preston v Southwick action from the game

EAST Preston Cricket Club captain Andy Reeves felt it would have been a case of win when you’re spinning in their two-wicket defeat at Felbridge on Saturday.

EP went into the match against the second-placed Division 1 side missing four of their spin bowlers with the conditions favouring that bowling.

That is how Felbridge did the damage to EP – who had won the toss and opted to bat – as they made just 110 from 33.3 overs.

Felbridge then replied with 111 for the loss of eight wickets as they edged across the line for the victory.

Reeves said: “The pitch was very dry and dusty, but I still think it was the right thing to do (bat).

“The only way to win the game was batting first, maybe we may have taken more points bowling first, but we wanted to go for it

“They had four spinners and we had just one as we had four guys unavailable, and, unfortunately, Dan Williams – who has been brilliant for us this season – had a bit of an off day.

“It was a bit of a shame, we were just short of spin bowlers and the batting had a bit of a collapse as well.

“Once you were in it was a bit easier, but the problem was getting in in the first place.”

In their innings, solid knocks at the start of the order from Tim Miles (32), Colin Smith (15), Jack Sunderland with a top score of 29 not out and Tom Chamberlain’s ten runs gave the visitors a good base to build upon.

This, however, never came to fruition as their remaining six batsmen made just nine runs between them.

Josh Carter hit five and Andrew Dixon four, while the others all went for ducks.

Jack Williams returned the best figures in Felbridge’s attack with 5-22, while Chris Williams took 4-30.

In reply, Williams opened up with 20 before falling victim to the bowling of Mark Coskin (3-33).

Jack Sunderland – who was the pick of the EP bowlers, finishing with figures of 5-29 – then picked up two quick wickets.

That brought to the crease Felbridge captain Rhodri Lewis, who top scored with 33 after being dropped three times.

Although the wickets did continue to fall, another 25 from Will Champness put Felbridge close to the target, before Sam Rintoul (2*) and Nick Chadd (4*) saw them home with 111-8.