AFZAL Kapadia claimed three crucial wickets as Preston secured their first win of the summer in a low-scoring encounter at West Cliff, in the process ensuring Netherfield's early season batting woes continue.

Debutant Jibran Khan, Saeed Bariwala and Soyeb Dukanwala all made starts as the home side were dismissed for 171 with only two balls of their innings remaining.

In reply, Kapadia accounted for Marc Brown, Sri Lankan professional Saliya Saman and Brad Earl as the Parkside Road club fell 45 runs short.

After being put into bat, Preston’s openers Khan and Bariwala posted 50 for the opening wicket before Mark Clarkson struck with the first ball of the 11th over.

The ex-Bolton le Sands seamer bowled Khan for 34, a knock which contained three fours and a six, before Sarfarz Navaz Patel fell the same way three balls later.

Preston skipper Bariwala and Dukanwala added a further 39 runs inside 12 overs before the former edged behind to John Huck off the bowling of left-arm seamer Brad Airey.

Dukanwala’s 57-ball stay at the crease was ended when the Indian all-rounder was trapped in front by Earl for 31, while an over later Sajid Patel edged Airey to Ben Barrow in the slips for three.

With Preston 106-5 off 30 overs, Miya Ahmed Lunat and Javaid Hussain added 21 for the sixth wicket before Ben Phillips claimed his sole wicket of the piece.

Phillips induced an edge from Lunat which was taken by Huck, before Saman trapped Sohail Saiyed in front for two, with Preston 135-7 inside the final ten overs.

Javed Hussain and Mohmedrafik Patel added a useful 22 for the eighth wicket before the latter was run out following a sharp piece of fielding by Barrow.

Saman – who returned figures of 2-53 – bowled Hussain to bring his 60-ball vigil at the crease to end for 21, as Brown’s fielding accounted for Kapadia who departed for four.

Chasing 172 for victory, the visitors barely generated any form of momentum and lost Barrow in the seventh over, with the opener bowled by Andrew Starkie for five.

Brown and Phillips then joined forces to progress the score to 53 before Brown edged Kapadia to Patel in the slips for 20 in the 18th over.

This dismissal triggered a collapse with a further three Netherfield wickets falling for the addition of just eight runs, with Bariwala trapping Huck LBW for three.

Kapadia removed Saman for a duck, caught behind by Saiyed, and returned in his next over to bowl Earl, who also departed without troubling the scorers.

Phillips was Netherfield’s most fluent batsman by far, hitting six fours and a six en route to 49, while also adding 31 runs for the sixth wicket with Brendan Herron.

The Australian fell one short of his maiden half century for the club, caught in the slips by Patel off Bariwala, as Nathan Dixon joined Herron to pick up the batting mantle.

The duo added 23 for the seventh wicket before Patel bowled Dixon for 11, with Clarkson out first ball to leave Netherfield firmly staring down the barrel of defeat at 115-8 from 41.4 overs.

Patel – who finished with 3-7 – trapped Nathan Chambers in front for four, with Herron the last man out for 21 as Bariwala claimed his third wicket in the 45th over.