Weekend Roundup Aug 16/17
PRESTON 1ST XI VS OLD OWENS CC
A close game away for the 1s at Old Owens. Old Owens won the toss and elected to field. Preston, being sent in and were off to a shaky start but captain Ed Wharton held the innings together with a fighting 94 of 126 balls. A true captain’s knock on a tough wicket, where L. Hollet took 5/30 of his 9 overs for Old Owen, as Preston were bowled out for 190 of 49.5 overs. In response, the in form Luke Marsden led the attack once again taking 3/52. However, Preston felt they were 20-30 runs short as Old Owens chased it down with 3 wickets in hand. A tough loss, however, Preston will look to bounce back as they keep fighting to stay out of relegation. They are currently 8th in the standings and 18 points out of the relegation zone.
PRESTON 2ND XI VS NORTHAMPTON EXILES CC
Without question, the game of the season! Preston’s 2s, missing their skipper David Fleckney, won the toss and elected to field. Newly promoted captain Mark Waters got Preston off to a solid start, as he finished on 2/30 of his 10 overs. Opening batsman M. Bullard for Northampton Exiles proved to be a thorn in Preston’s bowling attack, scoring a fighting 75 of 138 balls to take them to 194/8 of their 50 overs. Ashley Catlin showed his class again, also taking 2/30 of his 10 overs. However, the second innings was pure cinema. Faiz Azam (3/27 of his 10) for Northampton Exiles ripped through the top order, taking both Preston openers’ wickets for 0. James Battersby’s 31 runs gave resistance, but wickets kept tumbling. Preston were in a dire situation at 47-6. All of a sudden, they were 107/9 with 87 runs required and no. 10 Bhavin Patel and no. 11 Oliver Gallimore at the crease. The Preston win was surely out of reach. The Exiles threw everything at them, but the wide bat of Gallimore and the crafty shot-making of Patel stood tall. Bit by bit, the last wicket partnership grew. A herculean effort took Preston to 4 runs needed to win off the last 5 overs. Patel was on strike in the first ball of the 45th over, hit it straight to the fielder, and shot off for a risky single. The result: 4 overthrows. A jaw-dropping end to a mind-boggling game. Bhavin Patel finished on 46* and the evergreen Oliver ‘Kroney’ Gallimore scored 41*. 30 points and a win that is etched into Preston legend.
PRESTON 3RD XI VS HEMEL HEMPSTEAD TOWN CC
Another thriller! The 3s were at home and won the toss, electing to bat first. Skipper Nick Staddon played a captain’s innings of 57. However, the Hemel Hempstead Town bowlers were mighty competitors, with A. Shah taking 6/14 of his 6 overs. The 3s were bowled out for 129. However, in reply, Preston fought to the very end, taking the game to the last over. Neil Tompkins was a star, taking 3/34 of his 8 overs. Tompkins ended his spell with 2 consecutive wickets, and Hemel needed 3 of the last over with 2 wickets remaining for Preston. The result ended in 4 byes and a win for Hemel. Despite the loss, the 3s showed great character and fight. The 3s have had a tough season, but matches like this will only make them stronger. This weekend has shown that Preston Cricket Club can never be counted out of a game of cricket!
PRESTON SUNDAY 1ST XI VS STONY STRATFORD CC
Another blockbuster Sunday! Stony Stratford won the toss and elected to bat. They posted 243 before being bowled out in the first ball of the 39th over. Despite D. Chapman’s 120 for Stoney Stratford, it was the return of Preston’s Alexander Gallimore that was the highlight of the first innings. He took a casual 4/32 of his 5 overs while bowling at the death. What an effort! Josh Wigginton and batting in a big run chase, it does not get better! Wigginton took down the Stoney Stratford bowlers, hitting 9 sixes on his way to a brutal 129 runs of merely 67 balls. His wicket at 176/3 in only the 21st over meant the momentum shifted towards Preston. Stoney Stratford took 6 wickets, however, their resistance was too little too late. Preston successfully chased 243 in 38.4 overs, without needing the batting wizardry of an in-form Oliver Gallimore. 30 points and another successful Sunday for Preston!