Sunderland ton in vain as EP lose to Portslade

East Preston struck 282-5 from their 49 overs, as Sunderland top-scored with 110, but Portslade, who started the day as West Sussex Invitation League Division 1 leaders, then raced to victory with two overs to spare.

EP were put into bat after losing the toss and started brightly with a 50-run stand between opening batsmen Gary Weedon and Chris Williams. However, both fell with the score on 50 and when Colin Smith was out for one, East Preston were 57-3.

Tim Miles and Sunderland then had a fourth-wicket stand of 122 to put EP in the driving seat. Miles was out for 49, after hitting nine fours in his 82-ball innings but Sunderland then added 64 for the fifth wicket with Sean Rebbetts.

Sunderland fell for 110 with the score on 243 after hitting 12 fours and three sixes from 104 balls.

Rebbetts finished unbeaten on 52 as he fired four fours and three sixes from just 39 deliveries as EP finished on 282-5.

Portslade, who had already chased down 252 to win at Southwater last month, had a 29-run stand for their first wicket until captain Paul Glover was bowled by Sunderland for 10.

Jamie Howick and Ian Morley put on 49 for the second wicket, before Howick’s dismissal, for 40, brought big-hitting Australian Sam Delaney to the crease.

He added 97 for the third wicket with Ian Morley, who fell for 54 after hitting six fours and three sixes off 67 balls, before Delaney then added 93 for the fourth wicket with Luke Jones. Delaney was caught and bowled by EP skipper Richard Laker for 93 with the score on 268 after smashing nine fours and six sixes from only 59 balls.

Jones then took Portslade to victory with an unbeaten 60, from just 42 deliveries, with included eight fours and one six.

Laker said: “To score 282-5 was a brilliant effort, and Jack, Sean and Tim were absolutely fantastic.

“We have to take our hats off to Portslade. To chase that total was a fair effort. Delaney was always in control and to be honest looks a very good player. The others, despite clearly getting the job done, were a little bit hit and hope to be honest. The pitch was a good batting track and the EP ground is particularly small so they managed to get away with mistimed shots.

“Despite the loss, it was a good performance and we would have won nine times out of 10 playing as we did. We just have to move on and travel to Clymping to repeat the performance on Saturday.”

Portslade took 20 points from the game but Crawley Eagles’ 30-point 141-run win over Southwater saw them leapfrog to the top of the table and they also have a game in hand – which is this Saturday at home to Broadwater when Portslade have a free week.

EP slipped a place to sixth.