Preston CC V St Margaretsbury CC – National Village Cup

A delayed, weather threatened start turned the game into a 32 overs contest in the reduced overs opener in the National Village Trophy.

Skipper Murrell won the toss and decided to take the new ball first.  Murrell called upon ever-reliable Riant and the evergreen Waters; both of whom picked up the St Margs openers relatively cheaply. At drinks, St Margs were 48-2. The hosts then lost a flurry of wickets despite looking comfortable to the off-spin of Murrell who bowled well once again with spin-buddy Anderson with two scintillating C&B’s. St Margs’s impressive Ben Wallis steadied the ship and delivered a very classy innings of 83 to push the home side at innings close to 161-5, off the allotted 32 overs.

Preston’s opener Murrell started proceedings and batted as if his hair was on fire, clobbering the St Margs attack around the Park and getting runs close to the required rate until being caught softly at short mid-off. Usually reliable Blair was kept pinned by far more accurate bowling from the top end and young George Constantinidi came in and also decided to have a crack and looked comfortable but was unfortunately dismissed by ball hitting bowler and onto stumps to run him out.

Max Anderson decided to take control and picked his spots well deciding to park many of the balls he faced over the rope all over the shop, but he started to run out of partners and was dismissed himself in the mid-40’s. The loss of further quick wickets from here on in meant the Preston’s response was always going to be behind the rate. Preston’s Waters also went on the attack at No 9 to get to 20 quickly but despite being in touching distance and losing partners Riant and Burleigh in consecutive deliveries, Preston’s innings closed at 22 short.  Young Liam Waters held the 11th wicket up well considering but the bowling just proved too straight in the end.

Well played St Margs and with biblical weather all around us getting a game in was a result in itself.

Thanks to Tom D in the shed with the book and both umpires who often glanced aloft to see where the lightening may strike.

Here’s to next year…..