Bilal Asad leads his side to victory at St Annes
Gareth Evans top scored for St Annes with 41 |
Preston signalled their clear intentions of making it through to the Twenty20 Finals day with a resounding seven wickets win at St Annes in the competition opener on Tuesday evening.
Preston look ideally placed to challenge for honours in this format of the game and they defeated an inexperienced St Annes side with 6.1 overs to spare on a beautiful sunlit evening at Vernon Road.
Duncan Whalley made 30 for St Annes |
St Annes relied on the experienced Duncan Whalley and Gareth Evans to set a competitive total after losing openers Atiq Uz-Zaman and professional Dinuka Hettiarachchi cheaply.
Atiq was caught behind by Jonty McDonald (who briefly donned the gloves due to Charlie Williams's late arrival) off Bilal Asad for 4 and Hettiarachchi bowled by Lukman Vahaluwala for 3.
Whalley and Evans took the score to 75 before the former was superbly caught by Darren Nelson for 30 off the bowling of McDonald.
And when Evans was bowled by David Fisher for a well-struck 41 the St Annes hopes went with him.
Fisher, who took five wickets in the win at Kendal last Saturday, collected 3 for 13 in his 4 overs of off-spin as St Annes closed on 111 for 7.
Despite losing opener Sajid Patel, caught and bowled by Zafir Patel for 1 in the first over of their reply, Preston never looked in danger of losing.
Captain Bilal Asad hit three fours and two sixes in an unbeaten 41 to steer his side home to a comfortable win with good support from A Shaheen, Adam Parker and Vahaluwala.
The promising Patel took two wickets for St Annes.
The competition continues on Friday when Carnforth entertain Lancaster at Lodge Quarry (6pm).
Bilal Asad leg glances during his match-winning innings
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David Fisher took three wickets for Preston |
