East Preston 202-7 declared (45.4 overs) – 30 points

Southwick 139 all out (41.5 overs) – 6 points

After last week’s defeat to Ram EP could easily have been down before this match but everyone was confident of getting a good result against a struggling Southwick team. Andy lost the toss and unsurprisingly EP were invited to bat.

Both openers looked much more confident than in previous weeks. Jack tightened up his technique and looked to leave as much as possible while getting used to the wicket, but Sean was given instructions to play with more freedom and this was apparent as early as the second over which brought three well struck boundaries. The Southwick attack included Paul Grennan, who had upset the EP team last year by some idiotic sledging of Jack (who was just 14 years old at the time), and he proved that he had lost none of his ability to irritate opponents, often continuing his follow-through to offer some inane comment towards the batsman. His reported words to Jack are unrepeatable on this forum.

Unfortunately, Grennan did get the first two wickets, having Jack caught and bowled for 8 off a mistimed pull (37-1) and Sean bowled of an inside edge for 23 (40-1), but he didn’t bowl well, with Darryl hitting him for two sixes, one a flick off his hip over square leg, the other a pull shot to the same destination.

Smutt was not at his fluent best and was bowled for a painstaking 7 (73-3), although this was a much better return for the first three wickets than the previous match, when we were 8-3. Darryl, who had already passed 50, was joined by Tom R who, like the batsmen before him, struggled to time the ball at first and, just as he was beginning to get into his stride, was suckered out when he pulled a long hop from the spinner against the stiff breeze and straight to square leg for 21 (135-4). Gary followed next ball for a £1 fine inducing golden duck, trying to flick the ball to leg to be rightly adjudged LBW by Minno (135-5), bringing Miggins to the crease. Miggins has been in great form in recent weeks, including getting a maiden senior century against touring Styal onTuesday, but he never got going and was bowled by Grennan, on for a second spell, for 7 (156-6).

Spice was told to go and enjoy himself and, even though his third ball could easily have been hit straight to mid-on rather than clearing the fielder for a single, he did not disappoint, hitting five fours in his 25 not out as EP passed 200 comfortably. The only question to be resolved was whether or not Darryl could get his century, but he chipped a drive back to the bowler and was out for 87 (202-7). After a brief check on the overs gone (45.4), the skipper decided to prevent Southwick from getting any further bowling points, as EP already 10 in the bag for batting, and declared for an early tea with more science from Chambers and pedantry from the Reeves boys.

Although umpire Minno seemed puzzled at the declaration, the skipper explained that he felt that Southwick’s recent form meant they would be hard pushed to get 200, as they hadn’t managed that many combined in their last two innings.

With Joel still unfit, but taking wickets with his new found spin variant in the 2s, Jack opened. His second ball was run down to third man for a boundary but he amazed even himself with the next one which swung away from the opener by 12 inches to clean bowl him (4-1). Tom C started from the pavilion end and was as miserly as he had been in previous weeks, conceding just one run from his first four overs and, although Jack was a bit wayward at times, he did take the second wicket when the skipper’s attacking field placing paid off , Sean taking a comfortable catch at short mid wicket (24-2), followed by another big outswinger to york the opposition captain for a duck (24-3). With both openers restricted to just 5-over spells, Steve Laker and Sean took over, and Steve’s second over brought more success as Minno gave his second LBW decision of the day (47-4), and comical running brought the fifth (70-5).

Sean was struggling to maintain his line and was replaced by Jack for a second spell. Just as Andy was thinking of giving him a rest, he induced a slip catch to Miggns (86-6), which brought Grennan to the crease, but he disappeared almost as quickly as he had arrived as Miggins bowled him for a duck (87-7).

Southwick’s numbers 7 and 9 (Martin and Downey) tried to consolidate and gradually moved towards batting points as Tom R was tried for a couple of overs of seam and Darryl for two of off-spin, with his side strain still preventing him from bowling pace, and Darryl removed Martin to an LBW verdict that the batsman looked unhappy with, although he had spent most of his innings shuffling across his stumps (127-8).

At the fall of the wicket, the Southwick skipper asked Andy if he would accept Downey having a runner, which was initially declined as Andy felt that the injury had been brought into the game rather than having been incurred during it. A big Southwick hissy fit followed. In an effort to defuse the situation, Andy deferred to the umpires who confirmed that a player did indeed leave the field earlier for treatment after being hit on the knee whilst fielding, but they could not be sure if there was a prior injury or who it was. Interestingly, an EP spectator roaming the boundary did hear one local suggesting that Andy’s first reaction about the timing of the injury had been wholly correct!

In any case, a runner was not used for the time being, Southwick tempers remained frayed, and Downey proceeded to walk off at the end of the over, apparently in the mistaken belief that EP would be deprived of points if they did not get all 10 Southwick wickets (again clearly overheard by our EP spy), and the last man came out to face Tom C who had been recalled to the attack. Tom struck with his third delivery with Gary taking a good catch in the five man slip cordon (128-9). Andy had agreed to consider Downey’s earlier departure as “retired hurt”, so he was allowed to resume his innings, now with a runner (are you all keeping up with this?) and struck a couple of fours off Darryl, before Tom mopped up the innings by having another slip catch taken by Steve Laker (139 all out).

So EP were back to winning ways having completely outplayed Southwick in all departments.

That was another great innings from Darryl, there was good application from Tom R, and positive batting from Sean and Spice. Jack bowled beautifully to finish with 4-30, it was good to see Tom C get wickets, with 2-11, and the other bowlers, particularly Steve, did their bit. The fielding was excellent and committed throughout the innings.

Selsey and Wisborough Green in the next two weeks, so we should be looking for further wins to climb back up the table.