East Preston 260-9 dec (47.1 overs) – 14 points

Worthing Chippingdale 169-8 (46 overs) – 11 points

After two successes with the toss, the skipper lost this week and EP were invited to bat on a very dry wicket that looked full of runs.

Jack was the first to go, caught behind for 9 (33-1), with the rate already a run a ball. Smutt went the same way for 27 (78-1), but Sean was looking in good touch and clattered the ball to all parts of the ground, putting on 85 with Darryl, until over-confidence undid him and he was bowled for 79 (163-3).

Tom R’s stay was brief, being given LBW for 6 by the Chipps umpire off a thick inside edge that was heard by everyone else on the ground (171-4), and Spicey, after being urged to bat like a number 6, played across a straight one for a third ball 4 (178-5). Miggins was promoted to keep the run rate up but was also bowled for just 6 (185-6). Andy joined Darryl, who soon afterwards reached his 50, and the pair got the team to maximum batting points before the Chipps umpire’s odd interpretation of the LBW law was again a talking point, giving Andy out for 16 when the ball struck him on leg stump, but a long way out of the batting crease. Needless to say, Andy took the decision in good spirit and returned to the pavilion with a cheery smile (220-7). Thank goodness there is no swear box at the club!

Joel hit a brisk 13 before being caught in the outfield off an ambitious shot (242-8) and when Tom C went in there was hope that Darryl could get his ton before the overs ran out. Unfortunately, Tom was caught for 5 (260-9) and, with Mark Coskin in next and Darryl on 86, Andy decided to declare to prevent Chipps gaining another two bowling points.

The Chipps innings started cautiously with just one run in the first two overs, and then Darryl bowled the usually dangerous Andy Baumann for 1 (3-1).The score crept along at under three an over until Mark was brought on to replace Darryl. Although a little wayward with the odd delivery, he picked up a wicket in his first over (34-2) and added further wickets in overs three (61-3) and four (73-4). The fourth wicket was a personal triumph for the skipper who, seeing the extra bounce that Mark was extracting from the pitch, placed a fly slip and when the ball landed straight in Tom C hands proceeded to tell anyone who would listen how good a piece of captaincy that was. Two more wickets for Mark: Graham Avinou, the only opposition batsman showing any inclination to score runs, for 60 (98-5) and Adams (99-6), both caught behind, leaving 21 overs to get the remaining four wickets. Unfortunately, the bowling restrictions for the juniors meant that Mark’s initial spell was finished, but 5-38 was a great effort.

The other bowlers (Jack, Miggins, Tom C and Sean) were rotated and Joel and Darryl had second spells, but the only wicket to fall for the next nine overs was Ross Baumann (132-7), caught by Andy at slip (Andy’s first catch after three drops this season) off Tom C. Mark returned to take his haul to six (165-8) when Tom C took a good skied catch, but the complete lack of ambition from the Chipps batsmen (particularly disappointing as they chose to field first), and the quality of the wicket prevented any further successes. EP tried everything to get the elusive win, including ten people around the bat at times and Andy even asked Sean to bowl a couple of overs of leg spin.

The points difference was an unfair reflection of EP’s total domination of the game, but we showed good spirit. Big plusses this week were the return to batting form of the Rebbetts brothers, the fine fielding again, and Mark’s sensational spell of bowling, which looked as if it truly scared some of the opposition.

Off to top of the table Clymping next, but if we play like we did today, we will do well.