Cricket Reports – 13/14 August

22 August, 2022 | Categorised in:
Cricket Reports – 13/14 August

Preston First X1

Preston produced a season-defining performance on Saturday, comfortably beating league champions elect Old Owens.

Upon losing the important toss, Preston were asked to field in the scorching conditions.

Preston started fantastically with Casey Walker picking up the wicket of danger man Matt Plater to set the tone, restricting Owens to 42/1 off 15 overs.

There was no let up from the Preston bowlers as the spin trio of Anderson, Murrell & Stevens going for just 90 runs across their 30 overs.

However it was the evergreen seamer Casey Walker who was the standout performer returning with 4/31, leaving Old Owens on a below par 214/7 off their 50.

With the return of the 50/50 format and power plays. Preston opened with Ed Wharton & Phil Simpson in an attacking move. And the move proved a stroke of genius.

 

Ed Wharton took on the Old Owens bowlers with a series of frightening attacking strokes. Preston racing away to 70/0 after just 11 overs.

Simpson and George fell cheaply but Wharton kept his foot down. Eventually reaching his 100 in the 20th over – Preston on 140/3. Whartons match winning innings eventually ended on 108 off just 68 balls.

Preston now visit Luton & Hitchin in two huge Championship survival games. All to play for.

Preston 2’s hopes of promotion in Div 5A were torpedoed by losing to Northants Exiles by just 16 runs. Exiles elected to take first knock in a reduced 40 over game (due to heat) and particularly Muaz, Exiles hard-hitting opener, went off from ball one. It was young Joe Clark (4/16 off 7 overs) that shifted the momentum however by snagging 4 quality wickets including a hard caught and bowled. Exiles middle order collapse gave Preston some hope and clawed back the advantage. However, a lower order partnership of Azam (56) and Shah (36) meant Exiles posted 186 of their 40 overs.
Preston started well with openers Gooden (23) and Cole (19) getting off to a strong start. But with Cole out, the wicket of Gooden was soon after which led to Preston’s own mid-order collapse of 75-7. The lower order did their best with Waters (41) leading the fightback with Patel (16), Joe Clark (18) and Gallimore (22) all taking it to the Exiles attack but were in reality were always behind the rate and reached 173/9 off their 40 overs just 16 runs short.

Preston now sit in fourth place. All to play for but some against the run of form results will have to come into play now to give Preston any chance.

Preston 3’s beat London Colney comfortably by wickets. Chasing down 150 in 32 overs. A Rajani took MOTM award 3 for just 13 off his 8 overs and scoring 40 not out, supported by Luke Ponder 37*. Preston just one more victory to claim the div 9b title.
Preston 4’s saw off Stevenage by 9 runs to win their derby game. Andrew Raint taking 4/24 on the way.