ELECTING to bat in this return match, Broadway openers Frank Carenza (20) and Gary Evans (38) made steady progress from the start.

While Paul Gardner was able to peg the score down, bowlers from the other end struggled and, on a fast outfield, Ecki-ngton found fielding tricky.

Gardner finally got the breakthrough when he captured the wicket of Carenza in his final over. And, with Evans going shortly afterwards, Eckington were temporarily in control.

However, despite losing Gary Hawkins trapped lbw, Steve Howes and Duncan Beale took control and the score started to accelerate with boundaries being scored regularly.

Sharp running between the wickets helped the batsmen to 76 and 33 respectively in a partnership which saw the score pass 200 to attain maximum batting points.

Graham Mann (3-58) and Vince Crowley (5-39) achieved some reward in the latter stages of the innings with the innings closing on 263 all out in the final over giving Eckington some comfort from maximum bowling points.

Veteran batsman Kidnasamy Rajalingham (72) gave some early hope to Eckington despite the loss of opening partner Nigel White to the bowling of Howes in the second over.

With sharp fielding by the young Broadway side, the required run rate rose steadily and, with Howes capping a fine all-round display with figures of 2-9 from ten overs, Eckington were never in the hunt for victory.

Gardner's late flurry of runs with an unbeaten 22 provided further comfort to Eckington, whose innings finished on 174-7.