Anyone who turned up at the East Preston ground at teatime on Bank Holiday Monday, could have been forgiven for fearing the worst.  In a season that has seen a club record low score, they would have been confronted by the sight of the home side having amassed a total of 306 from their 40 overs.  This too was a record score against us and even the most optimistic amongst us could see we were staring down a barrel and facing a resounding defeat.

Yet enough guts and determination had showed itself in the East Preston innings to at least have us feeling that we could post some kind of response which would allow us to hold our heads high and, perhaps equally importantly, keep the fixture for next season.  Our response was superb and warrants a lengthier report than usual, but first we must look at the opening shots of what became a Bank Holiday run-fest.

Having won the toss, Laurie inserted the home side, who had tweaked their batting line up somewhat to give everyone a game.  This plan initially looked to have backfired, with early wickets falling, and at one stage the home side were 76-6.  At this stage, however, their more experienced players stepped up to the mark and a belligerent century by first eleven skipper, R Locke, meant that they were able to reach 306.  In fact, had the centurion not generously given his wicket away, a score of 340 plus was a distinct possibility.  Arun stuck to their work with grit and determination and no greater example of this was shown than by the bowling of Jamie, who kept us in the game early on with fast and accurate spells that saw him take 2-66 off 14 overs.  Rob and Monty both returned decent figures, going for around 5 an over between them and picking up 3 wickets.  Laurie, although a bit expensive, stuck to his task and secured two wickets.  On a very warm day the fielders struggled in the last ten overs but overall they worked commendably.

A run rate of almost 8 an over was always a huge ask, but Sam Mellor went about the task with a relish and, when he fell for a superb 79, the side were 98-2 and up with the required rate.  This would, in recent times, have had us hoping for at best 150, so what happened next was quite astonishing.  Jonty, having been promoted in the order, gave Laurie plenty to ponder with a beautifully struck 37.  Chris Staight, who struck ten fours in his 48, ably supported him, but a collapse in the middle order saw us at 205-7.  This was clearly giving us an impossible chase, but nobody had told the remaining batsmen!  Monty and then Tony Fuller put bat to ball with the intention of posting as big a reply as possible.  Monty’s brutal cross bat slog that nearly felled the scorers was accompanied by a straight drive that fairly shook the surrounding trees.  Tony was determined to have a go too, hitting a six over mid wicket, and at the close both players were still at the crease, with a very healthy 249-8 on the board.

There is a lot that could be said about the overall performance, but I am sure that Skipper will put something up on Captains corner (Hint!).  Suffice to say it was a day that saw players well and truly bury the debacle of Ford Prison.  We have one more game now and one would hope that the positive statements made with the bat today will be carried over.  It’s not rocket science - get to see the ball for a few deliveries, and then hit the loose one.  Granted it won’t always work, but when it does, it’s very effective. Well done everyone.