Lost by 113 Runs
 
Our Bank Holiday fixture against a strong East Preston side saw us comprehensively beaten, despite our best efforts.  Batting first, in occasional drizzle and very murky light, the home batsmen proceeded to set up a good base for what would be a target that was ultimately beyond a side that, due to unavailability, was top heavy with bowlers and short on the batting front.  Rarely do skippers have the option of up to ten bowlers to choose from, and I am not sure that it was such a good thing in reality, for the skipper or the bowlers!

The conditions from the off were not helpful in the field, with the ball often lost against the surrounding trees, and this, coupled with solid batting, saw East Preston reach 200-3 after only 26 of there allotted 40 overs.  Jamie had bowled consistently and deservedly took the first wicket to fall, narrowly failing to take a second with the delivery of the day.  Laurie bowled far better than his figures suggested, but the home side looked destined for a 325+ total.
 
It was the introduction of spin from the pavilion end that gave some cheer to the session, a spell of 4-38 from Monty holding East Preston up.  A mention too for the bowling of Patch (1-21), and for John and Tony, who both gave support from the opposite end at a time when East Preston were looking to hit every loose ball to the boundary.  Also a few words about the captain.  It’s never easy to skipper a side when one is so under the cosh so, and he undertook a sometimes thankless task admirably.  As a side we could have fielded better, but we stuck manfully to the task.
 
In reply we got off to the best of starts with the openers putting on a hundred in good time, but the departures of both batsmen when they looked set, put the brakes on the scoring,  and no-one was really able to maintain the run rate.  Sam was solid, as ever, for his 60, although he will have been disappointed with his dismissal.  David Groves again showed why he must surely be a contender for batsman of the year - his 58 looked untroubled until he holed out at mid on - a maiden century will not be long coming I believe.  The innings slowly meandered to a halt at 186-7 at 40 overs.

As previously stated, a comprehensive result, but the opposition were strong and we should not be too disheartened.  All is now set for our long awaited showdown with Roehampton.