Frustration for the firsts and seconds

Match reports for Saturday 17th May 2014

Preston were left frustrated by an ultra-negative Welwyn Garden City 2nd XI in Herts Division 2 on Saturday, after they refused to chase down a modest victory target of 150.

After winning the toss and electing to bat first, Preston made steady progress reaching 31 for 1 by the 10th over, with WGC already showing signs of negativity by placing just 1 slip and a ringed field to stem any regular run flow. Preston struggled throughout the rest their innings to force the run rate and were dismissed for a below par 150 all out in the 52nd over, leaving WGC to score a little over 3 runs per over to secure victory.
Eight of Preston’s batsmen made double figures but no-one got past the 25 scored by Callum Blair and William Gallimore.

Preston made an excellent start with the ball as Mark Waters (3 for 36) removed Menon with his 4th ball, backed up superbly by Henry Morecroft (3 for 28) who removed dangermen Hill, Skeggs and Lynch in a brilliant spell of bowling. The visitors were reduced to 48 for 6 by the 15th over, at which point they gave up the chase even though only 3 runs an over were required. The next 33 overs saw just 50 runs scored for the loss of 2 wickets, as Preston tried numerous bowlers with attacking fields to encourage some kind of shot-making. WGC finished their innings 98 for 8 in the 48th over, leaving Preston thoroughly disappointed with the draw!

Preston 2nds were also left disappointed after falling just 12 runs short of victory against Harpenden 3rd XI. After choosing to bat first, Harpenden played plenty of attacking shots but also regularly lost wickets as they were dismissed for 181 in the 49th over. Finlay Connah took 3 for 45, Pete Murrell 3 for 52 and Nick Jones 3 for 45, with wicket keeper Adam Shelley executing two outstanding stumpings. Preston’s reply started badly as they lost a wicket first ball, but Richard Gatehouse (32) and then Adam Shelley (42) looked to turn the game Preston’s way. However, wickets fell too often for comfort, and the dismissal of Shelley to a fine catch left Preston 147 for 9. Then Casey Walker (20*) and Finlay Connah launched a spirited last wicket partnership that threatened a last gasp win. Sadly, Connah was bowled within sight of a famous victory.

Preston 4s elected to bat first at Ware 2s. All was going well with a hard grafted partnership of 62 between Duncan Hoyle (14) and Dave Saunders (39), but once they were dismissed there was a catastrophic collapse to 88 all out. In reply the homeside got home by just two wickets to give Preston 8 points, Paul Brewer taking 4 for 24.