East Preston pegged back in title quest

East Preston Cricket Club saw their lead at the West Sussex Invitation League Division 2 summit cut to 56 points on Saturday.
A Barns Green batsmen is bowled during Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at The Cricket Field. Picture by Dennis NicholsonA Barns Green batsmen is bowled during Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at The Cricket Field. Picture by Dennis Nicholson
A Barns Green batsmen is bowled during Saturday's top-of-the-table clash at The Cricket Field. Picture by Dennis Nicholson

Leaders EP welcomed place-below Barns Green to The Cricket Field and succumbed to just a second league loss of the season following a poor batting showing.

Paul McCafferty (3-27), Jack Sunderland (2-34) and Glenn Whitaker (2-42) worked hard but Barns still managed to make 196-7 off 40 overs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The total was one that was chaseable but East Preston’s batters knew they would have to perform well.

No batsmen could make an impact for the home side, though, as opener Louis Storey (32) and Whitaker (24) were the top scorers and EP were all out for 125, losing by 71 runs.

The fixture provided East Preston an opportunity to pull further clear at the top in their quest for the Division 2 title. But now Barns Green are 56 points off leaders with a game in hand.

EP skipper Gary Weedon admitted it was not what he and the team had intended.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He said: “This was not the result we desired. We were hopeful of extending our lead at the top but we were unfortunate at the weekend.

“We did well to take late wickets, restricting them and we were happy with the score we were chasing.

“Out of the two teams, momentum was with us heading into our batting innings.

“Unfortunately, I felt there were some decisions that didn’t go our way, which cost us the victory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“Louis (Storey) stuck around but once he went it was all in their hands. It was just one of those days that didn’t go for us.”

Barns Green got off to a flying start thanks to Oliver Woodward (68) and Jay Dumbrill (47).

When Woodward fell to McCafferty, Barns were well-placed at 165-4, looking on course to post a massive total.

East Preston’s bowlers did a great job of putting the squeeze on Barns Green’s late order batsmen as they posted 196-7 off their 40 overs.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

After pulling things back with the ball, East Preston were in a good position to mount a run-chase.

The batters could not follow in the bowlers footsteps and they collapsed to 125 all out in response.

Opener Storey top-scored with 32, Whitaker struck 24, while Sunderland hit 16 but East Preston could only muster 125.

Nick Cooper (4-17) had the home side’s batters in a spin, then Harry Swetman and Woodward bagged two wickets each.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

EP skipper Weedon now wants to see his side bounce back at bottom side Selsey on Saturday.

He said: “The best thing we can do now is have two convincing wins before our week off. We must make sure we maintain some sort of gap at the top. It’s still very much in our favour as things stand and I’m sure all of the team will want to put things right. We’ve got a chance to do that when we go to Selsey in the league on Saturday.”

Don't miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you'll be amongst the first to know what's going on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

1) Make our website your homepage at www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/2) Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LittlehamptonGazette3) Follow us on Twitter @LhamptonGazette

4) Register with us by clicking on 'sign in' (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don't miss out!

The Littlehampton Gazette - always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.