Firsts close to another great win: weekend round-up 29/30 June

Preston 1st XI were left frustrated by visitors Shenley on Saturday after a superb team performance left them 1 wicket from victory.

Preston got off to a poor start with opener Ashley Catlin falling LBW in the 2nd over. Peter Williamson (23), along with skipper Warren Hearne steadied the innings against impressive Kiwi fast bowler John Lash with a solid 51 run 2nd wicket partnership. Then Hearne and
the ever reliable David Fleckney (33) put Shenley on the back foot with some clever shot selection and aggressive running, adding 105 for the 3rd wicket. The dismissal of skipper Hearne for 83 was followed by some late order cameos from Gallimore, Hill, Anderson and Morecroft as Preston finished their innings on 201 for 8 from 53 overs.

Preston started brightly with the ball, with 16 year old Seb Walton-Adams on debut removing the dangerous Kerai for 7. Then Mark Waters (2-14) in tandem with spinner Max Anderson reduced Shenley to 50 for 5 by the 20th over. Preston rung the changes in search of wickets and it was David Fleckney (3-10) that gave them hope as Shenley lost their 9th wicket with 16 balls remaining. However, despite a couple of near misses the visitors clung on for a draw at 144 for 9.

Preston’s 2nd XI’s disappointing run of form and luck continued at Southgate Compton. Poor bowling allowed Compton to get away to a fast start, and 8 dropped catches later the hosts declared on 288 for 3. Compton skipper Liam Frame made 119, while Preston’s captain Matt Burleigh took all their wickets with his part-time off spin. Preston’s senior batsmen all contributed to their own downfalls with poor shots, and the innings had to be rescued by the dogged determination of youngsters Callum Blair (49), Tom Murrell and Ollie Gallimore. But Blair was controversially stumped, and Gallimore succumbed LBW with just 7 balls left to condemn Preston to a 150 run defeat.

Preston 4ths visited Cheshunt 2nds on Saturday and were invited to take first knock on a belter of a track. A disappointing 110 was posted thanks to gritty knocks from Dave Saunders 52 and Neil Pomeroy 20. In reply, Cheshunt got home by 5 wickets of which 3 were taken by Rupert Bruce, there were also 4 victims for wicket keeper, Terry Ender.

Preston’s Sunday 1st XI continued their good form in the Chess Valley league with a comfortable win against Ley Hill. The visitors made 158-7 from their 45 overs, with Ollie Gallimore the pick of Preston’s bowlers. Preston made a cautious start, opener Ally Munn making 30, before Richard Wharton took advantage of some loose bowling to race to 90 not out from just 47 balls. Preston won with more than 15 overs to spare