EP lose at leaders

EP had five regular players unavailable and lost a crucial toss and were put into bat on a bowler-friendly wicket.

Tim Miles (13) and Josh Carter (30) put on 43 for the first wicket but they then lost three wickets without adding to the score.

EP then failed to put together any notable partnerships and were all out for 124 in 43.3 overs as Matt Travena and Ben Thatcher both took four wickets.

EP reduced Wisborough to 35-2 in their reply but Justin Grant and James Newman then fired Wisborough to victory with an unbroken 95-run stand.

Grant struck 34 with six fours and Newman smashed seven fours and five sixes as Wisborough reached their target in just 20.4 overs.

Tom Chamberlain took both the wickets to fall.

EP skipper Richard Laker said: “The toss was crucial and the pitch and overcast conditions certainly favoured bowling first.

“We also had a particularly weak batting line-up, with five regular players unavailable.

“We were always going to struggle but again our middle order gave their wickets away, which only made a tough game even tougher.

“I will normally try to find an excuse or a reason as to why we lost, or how we could have improved, but we were simply outclassed on Saturday.

“Wisborough’s batsmen made it look far too easy and deserved their convincing win, and I predict they will go on and win the league by some margin.

“As far as we’re concerned, it is now three poor performances in a row and we need to change our own fortunes to avoid a relegation fight.

“The league remains close and teams in third to eighth could go one way or the other.”

EP, who remain in fifth place, host second-placed Crawley Eagles on Saturday.