Weekend Roundup 8/9 July

Preston 1’s, after winning the toss, opted to field first against the hosts Broxbourne, anticipating the impending rain. The opening bowlers, Dan Scholz and Ed Wharton, put immense pressure on Broxbourne, reducing them to 35/3 before the rain interrupted play. When the game resumed, Broxbourne’s dangerous batsman George Davis aggressively took charge, scoring a quick 40 off just 28 balls. However, his innings was cut short by Casey Walker. With limited overs left (37), the match began to resemble a T20 format.

Despite Preston consistently taking wickets, Broxbourne displayed resilience and managed to reach a total of 162 all out by the 37th over. In their chase, Preston adopted an attacking approach, mirroring their usual style. Ed Wharton reached a commendable half-century, but was eventually dismissed by an exceptional delivery from left-arm spinner Bradley Sayers. Preston struggled to form substantial partnerships, with overseas player Darcy Murphy wreaking havoc, claiming an impressive 5/38 and restricting Preston’s progress.

As the game entered its final phase, Preston required 46 runs from the remaining 8 overs with only 4 wickets in hand, keeping the outcome uncertain. However, a combination of skillful bowling and lackluster batting resulted in Preston being bowled out in the final over, finishing at a total of 145. They fell short of their target of 152, which would have secured a winning draw. The defeat marks the end of Preston’s winning streak and is undoubtedly a painful setback, considering they were in a favorable position to claim victory.

Preston 2s continued their impressive run, securing another emphatic victory against Potten End in a rain-shortened match. Following a heavy shower and lightning at the start, the match was reduced in overs. Winning the toss, Preston’s batsmen faced early setbacks, losing the top five wickets without making significant progress. However, Anthony Ender of Preston made a remarkable impact, smashing a brilliant 98 at the sixth position. He received valuable support from Ashley Catlin (34), and a generous contribution of wides from the Potten End bowlers, which helped Preston reach a solid total of 233 for 8 in their allotted 40 overs.

In response, Potten End struggled to find stability and were eventually bowled out for 191 in the 38th over. Only Pickard (26), Ul Haq (33), and Skipper Akhtar (35) managed to get starts but couldn’t convert them into substantial scores. The spin duo of Fleckney (3 for 30 off eight overs) and the ever-impressive Ash Catlin (4 for 23 off 6.2 overs) wreaked havoc on Potten End’s middle and lower order. Preston’s bowling and fielding were excellent throughout the match, complemented by the superb keeping skills of young Arham Durrani. Their collective efforts paid off as they deservedly claimed the full 30 points for their commanding 42-run victory.

Preston 3’s won comfortably over Dunstable by 7 wickets and Preston’s 4th XI made it 3 from 4 as they returned to winning ways with a comprehensive 9 wicket win over Knebworth Park. After some early afternoon rain, skipper Phillips inserted the visitors with the game having been reduced to 37 overs a side. Ashby (3-26) made early inroads in the Knebworth top order before spin twins Riant (3-30) and Phillips (2-15) saw the away side slip from 83-3 at drinks to 106 all out. In response, openers Tennant (65*) and Williamson (37) made light work of chasing down the target inside 20 overs.

Preston Sunday XI embarked on an away match against Markyate, playing on a challenging pitch with short straight boundaries. Captain Ed Wharton, unfortunately, lost the toss, and Preston was put in the field. Markyate’s opening batsmen had a solid start, scoring 71 and 41 respectively, although one of them had the benefit of a few missed chances. Despite this, Preston’s bowlers put up a good performance, with opener Omar taking 2-57, Arif claiming 2-42, and Ed contributing with figures of 2-45. Markyate concluded their innings with a total of 233-7 after 40 overs.

Moving on to the batting, Preston’s openers, Will Mercer and Matt Burleigh, displayed composure on the challenging wicket, contributing 31 and 19 runs respectively. James Skirrow played a crucial role in stabilizing the innings with a patient 25 off 60 deliveries. However, with only 10 batsmen available, Preston was eventually dismissed for 135 all out.