Round 1 NVC – Preston defeat Sharnbrook & Bromham CC

Preston’s Village Cup campaign started with a long trip to frosty Sharnbrook & Bromham CC. Skipper Pete Murrell won the toss and stuck the home side in and was rewarded by his opening combo of Ollie Gallimore and Casey Walker boring the hosts into submission with a miserly opening spell of 40 off 16 overs. The stage was set for Max Anderson and all-round sensation Callum Blair to clean up the middle order with 3 wickets apiece, restricting Sharnbrook to 135 off their 40 overs.

Preston’s chase got off to the worst possible start after James Stevens was adjudged LBW first ball, with Olly Catlin clean bowled not long after. After watching the carnage at the other end Will Mercer steadied the ship, with the help of George Biggs and Ben Hill, with a nerve settling 32. A fast-scoring partnership of 63 between Hill and Blair got Preston to the line, with MOTM Blair finishing the game off by slamming the ball through a helpless mid-off for 4. Preston will play Reed in the next round, with the hope of finally getting one over our old NVC nemesis in their own backyard.