Regular readers might have spotted my Michael Fish weather gaff last week when reporting that 21st was to be glorious weather with sun in charge all day. When turning up at the SCMG at 10am it was embarrassing to have to report of dark clouds and light rain falling. But fortunately whilst never that sun drenched day the rain stayed away for most of the afternoon which meant that all four Senior games could be completed. PHEW !!!

Hashim Riaz Impresses on 1st Team Debut

After a Dan Phillips inspired team photo session where results will be forth coming our 1st team were in great spirits ahead of their match against a spirited but relegation threatened Haywards Heath CC. After a bit of ground work a 39 over match then ensured. Heath won the toss and elected to field.

After an early wicket Jake Hutson continued his excellent form with 36 off 45 balls accompanied by the youthful and dynamic Bertie Foreman 16 as the scored raced to 63 for 1. The experienced pair of Dan (45 of 38) and Kash (40 off 62) went on to create a mid order engine room partnership of 82. Hashim Riaz would of impressed on 1st team debut after carrying his bat for 29 off 32 including a six. It was then Nav time with two maximums in double quick time.

I am sure that the team would have been very satisfied with 213 for 7 off the 39 alloted.

In reply HH never really got a foothold as our excellent Jersey pace bowler, Daniel Birrell, produced a devastating spell of 3 for 29 off six overs. Nav also bowled well to take the dangerous Jethro Menzies for just 4 runs. Hash would of further impressed with a run out before Will Collard (2 for 18 off 8) and Kash (2 for 25 off 5) went on to clean out any Heath resistance on 110 runs.

In perhaps one of the more straight forward wins of the season our 1st team once again demonstrated a fierce will to win and not to give any anything away. The Sussex Premier League title could be their’s next Saturday.

4s win another classic at Streat Div 8

Season 2021 has been wonderful for skipper Stephen Oliver and his squad of experience and youths. They have now recorded 7 wins and could still get into the high echelons of Division 8 come 4th September. No doubt Stephen is currently writing one of his excellent match report so lets wait for that to appear on the whattsapp channel.

3s Need Two Wins and then Prey. Its not all over in Div 6!

Our Three’s, under the guidance of David Symes, have had a tough campaign in Sussex Div 6 having picked up a solitary win and bottom of the league. After an excellent start at home against St Andrews yesterday, where Malorie Short picked up two early wickets on route to 2 for 27 off 7 the team just couldn’t quite stem the flow. Ian Murray, 88 not out off 124 balls did most of the damage. A cameo knock of 25 from Shaun Nichols put the gloss on a good score of 205 for 7 off the 40 overs. More glaring, the extra’s column extending to 33 !

Not for the 1st time this season George CB looked to be the one who might of taken the Nomads to the brink of some kind of win. His 48 off 81 up top along with Baalaaj 37 produced a promising 1st wicket score of 63. Apart for Louis Ventor’s 37 off 26 the mid and tail order couldn’t find a solution as we came up 25 runs short. 10 bonus points was a positive aspect to the day.

I am not going to let our Three’s just drift off to Division 7 with out a fight and there is every reason to expect a real late season response to the situation. I challenge David and his team to beat Ditchling and Lindfield!

Well there you have it. In most ways an excellent day for Preston Nomads CC where we can go into the last two weeks of 2021 full of confidence and with the promise of some good things coming our way!

Cobo