Hainault and Clayhall266-6

Epping135-5

(League Cup 1st Round)

THE SCORELINE suggested a trouncing but Epping battled hard and did not lose any face against their Premiership opponents.

The Division Three outfit were playing their first game of the season but started well against the Essex League high-flyers.

Bowlers Dave Bickley and Jon Everett tied down the Hainualt openers and a Geoff Maynard run out restricted the visitors to 7-1 after six overs of the 45-over contest.

But that was to be the last wicket for some time for Epping as Patel (79) and McEwan (73) put on a century partnership for the second wicket. Epping's bowlers battled valiantly but a number of dropped chances in the outfield cost Epping dear and Hainault skipper Shah (45) provided the necessary finishing touch for the visitors as they finished on 266-6.

Richard Fulham picked up two wickets for the home side who were disappointed not to keep the visitors to a total closer to 200.

Epping's reply started well with openers Geoff Maynard and Simon Oliver putting on 42 for the first wicket in the face of some hostile bowling from Hainault's overseas Trinidadian pro Damian Lewis. Oliver was eventually caught at gully but Maynard continued the defiance, scoring 45 and some good late hitting from Dave Westall (21no) and Dave Bickley gave Epping's final total some respectability.

May 1, 2003 10:30