Reliable Walker sees Preston home in cliche-ridden clash

Preston 1st XI v Watford 1st XI Saturday 11th May 2013
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Stand in Skipper David Fleckney won the toss and invited Watford to bat first in this early season division two clash. Preston pace man Mark Waters accounted for the openers in impressive style with a smart catch from young gun Tom Murrell and an accurate Yorker which made a mess of the off stump. Watford consolidated reaching 70 for 2 but the influential Murrell snared a vital breakthrough which left the ever youthful Andy Riant to destroy the remaining Watford batsmen. Riant finished with 6 for 31 and Watford were all out for 126.

The threat of rain forced the Preston top order to attack from the off with Chris Cole and Jack Morecroft rapidly reducing the target to double figures. Wickets fell quickly and at 48 for 4, Preston looked in danger of ruining the bowler’s efforts. However Ben Hill (34) and big hitting Max Anderson (22) put nerves aside and took Preston to within touching distance of the win. Both holed out with rain looming and it was left to the experience of Garnham and reliability of Walker to see them home and round off a very impressive team performance.