Epping battle back to chalk up first victory

EPPING bounced back from last week's heavy defeat as they finally got their campaign underway with a close-fought win against local rivals Woodford Green.

The hosts, who had been skittled out for just 24 the week before, smashed 229-7 to win in 44 overs on the same pitch.

They won thanks to a real team effort that saw them bowl and field enthusiastically and contain the Woodford Green batsmen until the last ten overs of their innings.

Iyas looked to have taken the game away from Epping with a hard-hitting 44 not out after Patel (49) and Zahid (25) had done well earlier for Green.

But Epping bowled their 52-overs with Shahid Majeed (15-2-51-2) and Terry Preston (16-1-65-2) and Neil Green (6-0-23-2) particularly economical.

Dan Taylor propelled the batting chase for Epping with a maiden first team half-century. He got good support from Dave Sibley as the pair propelled Epping to 109-1 in just 19 overs.

Sibley went for 23 but Dan Twitchett steadied the ship with a cultured 21 before Taylor was dismissed for a brilliant 68.

With the rain falling and the light drawing in, both sides did well to stay out in the middle to try and get a result.

It was Epping who claimed the win with eight overs to spare with Terry Preston (38 not out) and Alex Merritt (12 not out) leading the home side over the victory line.

Delighted skipper Geoff Maynard said: "After last week's heavy defeat we showed a lot of character to bounce back in the way we did, especially with the way we batted.

"We also had to bowl and field very well against a very good Woodford Green side.

"Hopefully now this will be the kick start we need to our season and we can go on and put a few more wins on the board."