East Preston 241-6 (49 overs) – 11 points

Broadwater 242-2 (43.1 overs) – 30 points

After last week’s win at leaders Clymping, EP were hopeful of getting something out of today’s match with second placed Broadwater. The pitch was completely different from last week, being much drier and flatter thanks to Smutt’s meticulous preparation, so the skipper decided to break from the usual trend and opted to bat first. The hope was to get 200+, notch ten points, and put pressure on in the field after tea.

Unfortunately, the innings got off to a bad start when Sean attempted a pull in the second over and saw the ball fall onto the stumps via his shirt for a duck (3-1). Jack batted more patiently than in recent weeks until he wafted outside the off stump to be caught behind for 11 (27-1) and worse followed when Smutt couldn’t resist a wide one that he hit straight to cover point for 13 (30-3). Apart from the wickets, the scoreboard was almost static, but Darryl and Tom refused to be panicked and set about building a partnership. Although slow to get off the mark, taking 19 balls to score his first run, Darryl looked in good nick and was into his stride as opening bowler Hodges was reaching the end of his stint, Darryl plundering four boundaries in as many balls. Umpire Minno got himself into the action, calling the bowler for eight no balls in his spell.

Tom also took his time to get going, but he hit a flurry of boundaries as Broadwater’s captain rotated the bowlers in search of a breakthrough. Gradually, the run rate increased and the EP skipper’s mood lifted with each addition of points. Both batsmen progressed past their fifties without alarm, and Darryl reached his maiden league century with a vicious pull over mid wicket. A fantastic and chanceless knock – until he was caught a few balls later for a fine 102 (198-4). To their credit, the Broadwater players all congratulated him as he left the field.

Gary and Miggins were both run out in the search for quick runs (219-5 and 233-6) and Joel faced just one ball before Tom brought the innings to a close with a six into the trees at wide mid-on (straight-cow in my book!) to finish on 84 not out (241-6). Ten points and the first objective achieved.

Broadwater did not seem unhappy at the target, and were well underway in the first over when Darryl’s first two deliveries were off- and leg-side wides, yielding 8 extras in all. Joel went for four first ball but settled down for a whole nine deliveries before pulling up with a recurrence of his old hamstring injury and had to spend the rest of the day at slip. Sean came and went without looking threatening, but Miggins bowled veteran Bob Reynolds with a full delivery in the 14^th over (71-1).

With Graham Waller in full flow, reaching his ton in the 25^th over, EP’s fielding and collective tempers started to fray. All of the bowlers were struggling to bowl one side of the wicket (15 byes and 23 wides), making it almost impossible to set a containing field, so it was a relief when Darryl returned and bowled Luker (211-2) to get a bowling point, although there were no further successes and the game was lost with more than twelve overs left.

At the end of the game, the skipper reminded the team that they had just taken 41 points from the top two sides in the division, and it was no disgrace to get beaten by a team containing several players who only nine months earlier had been playing for Findon at Lords.

We head to Crawley Eagles next week to play on a wicket that has yielded very few runs. The top score to date is just 150, so to will be vital for us to stay focused in the field and to take the catches when they are offered.

Congratulations again to Darryl for a great innings – lets hope that we see many more of them for EP.