East Preston 284-5 declared (47.1 overs) – 13 points

Horsham Trinity 190-6 (46 overs) - 4 points

EP were looking to extend their unbeaten run of four games and to avenge the defeat at Trinity on the second week of the league season, and were again greeted with another hard flat track prepared by Smutt. Andy wanted to win the toss and bat to put pressure on the visitors, and was worried when the coin fell the wrong way, but inexplicably Trinity decided to field first in the heat.

Sean had a new opening partner this week in Gary, as Andy moved Jack down the order, and both looked comfortable against some short pitched bowling from Smith and White, so it was a bit of a surprise when Gary failed to get over a drive and was caught at cover for 9 (31-1). In another tweak to the order, Darryl stepped up one place to three and, after negotiating a dangerous bouncer first ball, soon set about the bowling. Sean and Darryl took turns to overtake the other’s score but Sean eventually forged ahead and reached his 50 off 58 balls with a six off Street, who seemed unsure whether to bowl seam or spin and was not doing either particularly well, eventually conceding over 104 runs from 17 overs. Darryl became a little becalmed, taking 25 balls to move from 46 to 50, which came off his 82^nd delivery, but he was still looking in good touch.

The introduction of young leg spinner Gunning had slowed the rate a little but both the Rebbetts started to attack him more, with Sean playing two good sweep shots for four. However, that shot that was to undo him when Gunning bowled him round his legs for 89, when a thoroughly deserved ton looked within his grasp (182-2).

Tom R guided his first ball to third man for two and looked to be settling in when he was given LBW to Street by Dick for 5, a decision which he was clearly not happy with (198-3).

EP bagged maximum batting points with more than ten overs left and 300 was a distinct possibility as Trinity fielders’ heads dropped and bodies wilted in the sun. Darryl continued the acceleration and reached his third ton of the season, overtaking Sean’s club league record in the process, before falling to a catch off Street for 116 (268-4). By this time, Jack had already warmed to his new role of middle order hitter and helped himself to four sixes in a score of 44 not out off just 22 balls. The innings was declared closed when Miggins was caught at long on for 2 off Street (284-5) as Andy decided to deprive Trinity the opportunity of gaining any bowling points.

The second innings started with the freneticism that marked the end of the first, as Jack was hit for two pulled sixes in his first over, suggesting that Trinity were going to have a go at the target. Andy called on Joel to bowl the second over with his slow non-turning off-spin, as he had been the most economical bowler the previous week and, apart from one over that went for 8, he bowled very tidily without looking threatening, although he was unlucky when Jack later could not quite reach a difficult chance in the deep off (you guessed it) a full toss. Meanwhile, Jack’s second over could not have been more different from his first as he bowled a tighter line and had Angus Cox caught behind by Gary (14-1).

Number three, Petch, had the build of a nightclub bouncer but seemed unable to utilise that strength as he alternated between wild swipes and sturdy prods before being put out of his misery when Mark Coskin had him caught by Tom R in the covers for a 21 ball duck (33-2) and the normally effective Steve Cox followed in Mark’s next over as he was beaten by a full delivery to be bowled for a slightly quicker, five ball, duck (33-3).

EP were now in total control as Joel and Mark gave very few loose deliveries and Miggins, despite being hit for a six in each of his first two overs, also bowled tightly. Only the return of Jack seemed to stir the batsmen into mid-innings action as he was hit for 29 off three overs before giving way to Tom C. That brought swift results as firstly White was caught by Darryl for 38 (114-4) and then Cushing caught by Smutt for 3 (125-5) as the fielders closed in around the bat. The departure of Humphrey, bowled by Miggins for 6 (132-6) gave EP a real chance of a win and of overtaking Trinity in the table. Disappointingly, considering they had opted to field first, Trinity never really made an assault on the target and the quality of the wicket and the softening of the ball prevented any further EP success in the remaining 14 overs, with Trinity finishing 94 runs short (190-6), and the two teams ended the day level third in the table, although Trinity have a game in hand.

A free Saturday next week, followed by a difficult four game run in: Chipps, Clymping, Broadwater and Eagles. If we play like this though, we should stay in the top half of the table and third is a real possibility.