7/8 Aug – Roundup
13 August, 2021 | Categorised in: Match Reports
Preston’s 2nd XI managed to dodge any significant rainfall on Saturday to record their twelfth victory of the season against second place Berkhamsted 2nds.
On losing the toss (again) Preston were asked to have a first knock on a green looking surface and with the very real threat of rain all around. It soon looked like Berkhamsted had made the correct decision to bowl first as wickets began to fall. At 56 for 3 it was clear some digging-in was required from Preston. Dom Baldwin (28) and Skipper David Fleckney (37) started to get the feel of the pitch and accumulate some good runs, taking their time and putting away the bad ball when it came. More wickets fell around them but Preston scrambled to a possibly below par score of 158 in just over 48 overs.
It was however Prston’s bowling unit that soon began to mess up Berkhamsted’s plans. Oliver Gallmore (3-17 off 8 overs ) quickly got through the top order, including the experienced Klosterman. Mark Waters (2-19 off 8) was also amongst the wickets and Berkhamsted soon found themselves in deep trouble at 26 for 5. With the sky quickly blackening and Berkhamsted only being three or four boundaries away from being ahead of the required run-rate, Preston introduced the slow drift of Catlin (1-15 off 7) and the skiddy swing of Bhavin Patel (2-11 of 4.4) to keep their momentum going. The writing was on the wall and Berkhamsted were all out for 75 as the table topping Preston 2nds secured another solid win.
Preston now see themselves 94 points clear of second place in Division 6A with four games to go.
Skipper David Fleckney said “another strong performance with the ball but some silly mistakes came into our game with the bat. 158 was slightly below where I would have liked to have been but the bowlers once again produced some great spells, particularly Ollie Gallimore. It was another great win”
It was however Prston’s bowling unit that soon began to mess up Berkhamsted’s plans. Oliver Gallmore (3-17 off 8 overs ) quickly got through the top order, including the experienced Klosterman. Mark Waters (2-19 off 8) was also amongst the wickets and Berkhamsted soon found themselves in deep trouble at 26 for 5. With the sky quickly blackening and Berkhamsted only being three or four boundaries away from being ahead of the required run-rate, Preston introduced the slow drift of Catlin (1-15 off 7) and the skiddy swing of Bhavin Patel (2-11 of 4.4) to keep their momentum going. The writing was on the wall and Berkhamsted were all out for 75 as the table topping Preston 2nds secured another solid win.
Preston now see themselves 94 points clear of second place in Division 6A with four games to go.
Skipper David Fleckney said “another strong performance with the ball but some silly mistakes came into our game with the bat. 158 was slightly below where I would have liked to have been but the bowlers once again produced some great spells, particularly Ollie Gallimore. It was another great win”
Gurpreet plays “Dream Innings” as 3s sensationally stun table-toppers Hertford 4s
A swashbuckling 53 not out from number 9 Gurpreet Singh took the Thirds to a stunning 1 wicket win against run away Division 9B leaders Hertford 4s at Whitwell. Coming to the crease at 108 for 7 with 74 still needed to win, Gurpreet smashed 8 fours and 2 sixes off just 35 deliveries, including 22 off one over, to turn what looked like certain defeat into one of the Thirds best-ever victories. Gurpreet was superbly supported by Jamie Moughton (12) in a 9th wicket partnership of 58, but with just two needed for victory Moughton was trapped LBW. Then last man Arif Islam kept his cool and cut his second ball past the slips for the match winning boundary, sparking delighted celebrations from the rest of the team.
Earlier, Hertford 4s had set Preston a challenging target of 181 in a reduced 40 overs after morning rain had pushed back the start time. The Threes bowlers had all performed well, but Hertford’s strong batting line up looked to have given the visitors the upper hand. Preston’s opening batsman John Garnham then compiled an excellent 55 against good quality Hertford bowling, but wickets regularly fell at the other end and when Garnham was finally dismissed the match looked beyond the Thirds. But Gurpreet was having none of that, and as he later commented, his “Dream Innings” took Preston to a famous win.
Gurpreet went Ballistic!!
