It seems to have been a long time in coming but Preston Nomads CC are back to the exciting vibe of League Cricket this weekend. The 1st and 3rd team are scheduled to step out at the SCMG while the 2nds and 4ths have away days. Its a chance for all 4 teams to set down a marker and get off to a flyer! Lets get into it.

Dan Phillips Leads out 1st Team against Eastbourne. 11.30 am ECB Sussex Prem. 50 overs per side.

Our 1st team played extremely well in two preseason friendlies when beating Weybridge and Three Bridges. Team spirit and hi energy fielding displays resulted in strangled scores and wins. Last Saturday the team were in devastating form again in the field, in particular 5 wickets from D Ibrahim restricting Brighton to just 117 runs. Unfortunately we just couldn’t get going with the bat and ultimately bowed out of the Sussex T20 Cup.

Eastbourne do not appear to have played any friendlies that I can see on play cricket. Perhaps they played a couple behind closed doors. However, there was no problem for the 1st team when they ran out very comfortable winners against Seaford in the T20. Wickets were shared around as Seaford made 82 for 9. Then the hosts chased with the loss of just one wicket.

Their squad has three players in the current Sussex Twos team, who are playing Surrey. Joe Pocklington, Oli Carter and Archie Lenham, all youngsters who have risen through the Sussex youth ranks and excellent cricket players. Skipper Oliver Smith brings experience and runs in the engine room. His highest score last season was 160 not out.

With youth and experienced hands on show it looks to be an incredibly intriguing opening league encounter. If Nomads can get their batting on point you would expect a strong showing on home soil.

Loads of Runs at the Wellbrook. James and the Twos travel to Mayfield ECB Sussex Div 2 12.30 start 45 overs per side

Our 2nd Team under the guidance of skipper James M make the tricky trip west to Mayfield for their 2021 league debut. It’s a beautiful ground with excellent club house facilities (which wont be in use of course) and has a reputation of being a batsman’s paradise. There have already been a mile of runs scored on the ground and its only May the 6th. Indeed ex Sussex pro, and a favorite of mine, Harry Finch scored an unbeaten 209 for Hastings on 24th April. Prior to that Haywards Heath chased down 267 in 44 overs on 17th April. With the bat Mayfield look towards Sheffield, Killops and skipper and ex Kent pro and Eastbourne, James Hockley for runs and Joe Joyce for wickets.

Its sure to be a batting bias going into this game. Hopefully James can look towards his top order to make hay and get us off to a positive start.

Burgess Hill 2s Travel to Fulking to Play 3rds! Sussex Central Div 6 1pm 40 overs per side.

Skipper David Symes will very much be looking forward to leading his new looking 3rd team out on the South Square. The team have done well in friendly matches thus far and you feel their is a lot to come with the players available. BH are always very competitive and drove home a positive win against Brighton in the T20 last Saturday. They got on top early with both openers making good runs (Hopkins and Amin) with Charman scoring 29 down the order in a score of 143. Maskell , Charman and Simpson cleared up the Brighton response in a 55 run victory.

Its going to be a competitive start for our 3rd team. Especially if Jack Dan and Matt make the trip.

Its Hove and Palmers 1st team away for new 4th Team skipper. Sussex Div 8 1pm start 40 overs per side

Our 4th team with new skipper Stephen O faced a tough opener in the Sussex T20 plate last Saturday but will now be looking to get into league action. They start with a trip to Hove Recreation Ground for a game against Palmers. Palmers had a mixed bag last weekend. They had a very good league victory when Nick Reason scored 120 runs and Martin Schooley took 4 wickets but lost in the T20. Its uncertain of their personal for this one but for sure the team will be competitive.

Steadfast BBC Forecast (Rain)

I am a keen watcher of the BBC online forecast and in general they get it spot on. Unfortunately for several days now they been forecasting cricket wrecking rain through out our region and all day. If it transpires as per the prediction there could be a deluge of cancelled games and at best interrupted matches. You never know though there might be some cracks in the rain clouds and for some reason my money is on Mayfield to miss the bulk of it.

So there you have it. Lets hope that low passes to the north of Sussex and we manage to get all four games played. Please follow all our social media channels during the day for updates where the main coverage will come from The Wellbrooke and our 2nd team.