August Cup: Roffey come unstuck at Preston Nomads - Horsham beat Three Bridges for first win

Roffey slipped up on their visit to Preston Nomads, but Horsham gained their first win in the competition in some style at Three Bridges.

Roffey 107 all out (32 overs) – Preston Nomads 109-3 (27.4 overs). Nomads won by 7 wickets

Roffey won the toss and elected to bat, but soon regretted it, losing early wickets before a lower order collapse condemned them to an inadequate, indefensible total, Nomads running out comfortable winners with more that 12 overs to spare

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Fulking has often been a happy hunting ground for Roffey, notably in 2014, when they grabbed the first of their Premier League titles in style – unseating reigning champions Preston Nomads, who had won the Premier six times in the previous eight seasons.

But, last Saturday it was not a happy visit, with openers Theo Rivers and Rohit Jagota both gone, along with Anish Padalkar, by the time 27 runs were on the board. With Mike Norris not playing, the score slumped to 34-4, before skipper Matt Davies and chairman Josh Fleming staged a partial recovery, but once they were out – Davies for 25 and Fleming for 37 - little further resistance was forthcoming.

Wickets fell inexorably, Roffey finishing on 107 with eight overs unused, the wickets being spread among the five Nomads’ bowlers employed, Danial Ibrahim taking 3-22 and Adam O’Brien, Owen Kerman and Will Collard two apiece.

With Roffey seeking something of a miracle, Jagota and Jamie Atkins soon dismissed the opening batsmen and at 9-2 there was a glimmer of hope. But former Roffey batsman Usman Khan and skipper Dan Phillips consolidated, and while Jagota and George Fleming were as frugal as ever, and four other bowlers were used, from 60-3 it was relatively plain sailing.

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Phillips shepherded his side home, his unbeaten 83 ball 66 containing a six and 11 boundaries.

Roffey skipper Matt Davies told the County Times: “We didn’t perform well enough to compete in the match. We lost too many early wickets and our batting line up is much shorter than in previous years, so we needed to get off to a solid start and score 160/170 to be competitive on that pitch.

"We bowled reasonably well, but had to take three or four early wickets ourselves, and our fielding let us down again – that needs to change next week. But, it’s been a beneficial four games to understand where we are as a team ahead of next season. With one qualifying game left, it’s unlikely that we’ll progress any further, so we’re looking to go out on a high against Three Bridges at home on Saturday.”

Preston Nomads’ fourth win from four starts makes them undisputed group table toppers.

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Horsham 196-7 (40 overs) – Three Bridges 133 all out (31.4 overs). Horsham won by 63 runs

Horsham completed their first August Cup win in style, courtesy of an outstanding display by opening bowlers Jimmy Brehaut and Jake Martin

Winning the toss and batting first in blustery conditions buffeting the poplar trees, with the weather alternating between hot sun and almost autumn chill, Horsham lost an early wicket to an expansive swing, but recovered to 54-1, when opener Joe Willis departed for a previously untroubled 26.

The used wicket was slow and Nick Oxley made a watchful 34, before, in the innings of the day, Sussex’s Will Beer made a classy 70 with 8 fours – by far the biggest individual contribution.

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At the halfway 20 over mark, Horsham were 86-2 and needed to accelerate, Beer taking a liking to Danny Alderman’s bowling, until Oxley walked past one to be stumped, promptly followed by Ollie Haines, LBW playing across the line.

But Beer kept going in company with Paul Williams (18), both eventually being bowled with the score on 174, out to belligerent shots in the quest for quick runs, a late flurry from Sam Bell and Sam Martin-Jenkins, taking Horsham to a useful, but not killer 196.

Much depended on how well Horsham bowled, and skipper for the day Ben Williams was superbly served by his brisk left armer Brehaut and Martin, both, with rare blemishes, bowling admirably straight and full, and, crucially, moving the ball late.

Twice on a hat trick, Bridges had little answer to Brehaut. Last season he took 4-22 at the ground, this time he ended with 4-36, while Martin – Will Beer’s cousin from Steyning – with his first wickets for Horsham, took 3-30.

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After reaching 14 without loss, Bridges staggered to 44-7, and while they then put on 62 for the eighth wicket, Luke Bellars top scoring with an unbeaten 41, they had far too much to do.

Two late scalps from Ben Williams, getting occasional lift, seeing Horsham home by 63 runs. A smart diving catch from Beer sealed Bridge’s fate, after last week’s wicket keeper, Willis, had pouched another stunner on the boundary.

Horsham's Ben Williams told the County Times: “Ideally we’d have liked a few more runs, but in the end we had plenty – Jimmy and Jake bowled fantastically well.” Brehaut added: “It was so good bowling in partnership with Jake: he bowled brilliantly, enabling us to keep them under pressure and control the game”.

On Saturday, Horsham return home for their final group game, against Middleton.

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