Last pair egde EP to victory over Broadwater

EAST Preston Cricket Club grabbed a narrow one-wicket victory over Broadwater in a match which could have gone either way on Saturday.

EP captain Richard Laker was left with mixed feelings after their second consecutive victory in Division 1 of the West Sussex Invitation League saw them move up to second spot.

He praised bowler Dan Williams, whose five-wicket haul, helped dismiss Broadwater for just 173. But he was less than impressed with their middle order in the chase as they collapsed from 122-4 to 164-9, before last pair Tom Chamberlain (seven not out) and Mark Coskin (six not out) helped them creep across the line.

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Laker said: “I was very pleased to get the 30 points and to move into second in the league, but the performance was tainted slightly by the way we allowed a poor bowling side, as admitted by themselves, to put us under unnecessary pressure and for us to collapse the way we did. That aside, we dominated 90 per cent of the game and a win is a win.”

EP won the toss and put Broadwater into bat and they made a solid start with Graham Waller (29) and Bob Reynolds (23) putting on 50 for the first wicket, before Coskin made the breakthrough with the ball.

Williams, who claimed 5-18 in his 15 overs, and Laker (2-58) then dismissed the next six Broadwater batsmen for 69 runs, of which Paul O’Sullivan made 25. Steve Murphy added an unbeaten 24 as Broadwater were all out for 173 in 46 overs.

Laker said: “We dominated with the ball from start to finish with Dan Williams standing out, as his near perfect display of bowling was just far too good on the day – it was fantastic to watch.

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“As for the batting, the middle order nearly ruined all Dan’s hard work as we went from 122-4 to 164-9 in quick time.

“Credit must go to Tom Chamberlain and Mark Coskin at the end of the innings for the way they held their nerve, unlike some of the batsmen, and saw us over the line.”

Colin Smith (27) and Jack Sunderland (54) put on a third-wicket stand of 60 to help EP up to 87-3, but with Smith gone, Sunderland continued and helped them up to 122-4 before he was bowled by Bob Reynolds, who finished with 3-59.

Having claimed the first two wickets, O’Sullivan (5-64) returned and caused more damage with the ball as he sent three more back to the pavilion. But with only one more wicket left, Chamberlain and Coskin stood strong and guided their side home.

EP have their free week on Saturday.

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