Nadeem Syed’s side have arrived at the summit 12 games in, after defeating their two nearest rivals, Datchet and Wokingham in the past two weeks.
On Saturday Slough’s Indian overseas Vishnu Solanki saw his side to a six-wicket success as they chased down Wokingham’s total (237 all out in 54.5 overs).
Solanki struck an undefeated 79 from just 66 balls, including 8 fours and 3 sixes, to take his side top of the table.
Yash Lanki (37) and Humza Ishaq (51) gave Slough a 77-run opening partnership, before Solanki and Sahaan Sahaan (33) shared a fourth-wicket stand of 84 which took the game in their favour. The target was reached at four wickets down in 41.2 overs.
Earlier, Wokingham opened with Archie Carter, following his move from Henley, and Anthony Clapham (44). Dan Housego contributed with 42 before Berskshire all-rounder Andy Rishton hit 65 from 67 balls (9x4s, 1×6) from number six, but Lanki and Sahaan both claimed four poles apiece to remove the visitors.
The victory gives Slough a three point advantage at the top, while Wokingham can take solace that as other results went their way they are thirty points clear of their nearest promotion rivals Gerrards Cross in third.
The Bucks side moved up the table when they added to Bicester & North Oxford’s woes as they inflicted a nine-wicket defeat on their visitors.
Chris Marrow, recently restored to the Bucks side, opened with 71 not out, while George Harvey’s whirlwind unbeaten 53 from just 29 balls saw him hammer 5 sixes and 4 fours. They reached their target (156 for 1) in just 24.1 overs.
Bicester & North Oxford never recovered from being 14 for 3, as Josh Towell’s 49 was their only notable knock in their 154 all out. Patrick Smith (3-25) and Teddy Fleming (3-31) doing the damage at Dukes Lane.
Matt Rance performed with bat and ball as he helped Chesham to draw with Datchet at The Wally Gage Memorial Ground.
After being inserted, Rance and fellow opener Moiz Rana gave Chesham an opening platform of 155, before the latter was dismissed for an excellent 68 (11x4s, 1×6). Rance continued to perform, as along with Daniel Ward (35), the pair added 76 for the second wicket. The opener reached three figures (145 balls, 177 minutes) just two balls after Ward departed before he was finally removed for a brilliant 122 (17x4s,2x6s) with the score on 256.
Chesham closed their innings on 293 for 7 as Yousef Majid (4-96) and Oliver Smithson (3-57) took wickets.
Rance then claimed 3 for 56 with the ball as Datchet took a share of the spoils with 184 for 7 in 51 overs. Defiance coming from Jack Laraman’s 83 (12x4s, 2x6s) and Nicholas Stubbs, who finished 43 not out at the close.
Alfie Smethurst took career-best figures and Derval Green produced with leather and willow as Oxford and Horspath, who were once merged, shared a draw at Jordan Hill.
Smethurst, who was recently recruited onto the Sussex Academy, saw his left-arm spin pick up eight for 52 from 17.5 overs after Tom Nichols (38) and Vivek Narayan (30) had both made starts in the ‘path top order. Jamaican international Green made valuable middle order runs as his 62, containing six boundaries, helped project Horspath past the 200-mark, before being dismissed for 214 in 50.5 overs.
Green then opened the bowling and put his side on top with four for 50 from 15 overs. Only Isaac Dikgale’s battling undefeated half century in 99 balls held off the visitors before stumps were pulled.
Ubaid Kiani’s 81 helped Thame Town to a 34-run victory at Falkland, a result that places them sixth in the table.
The right hander hit nine fours in an innings that lasted a little over three hours, as he shared a fourth wicket partnership worth 88 runs with Lloyd Paternott (48). Alex Browne hit a quick fire 42-ball 63 runs, with eleven boundaries, to elevate the Thame scoreboard before Kiani was eventually dismissed, as the visitors declared on 279 for 9 at the end of the 55th over.
Chris Baker opened with 53 for Falkland while there were further contributions by Bobby Brown (48) and Craig Williams (44). But the home side lacked the one player to make a big score to see them home, and they eventually fell short (245 all out in 52 overs). Dinny Malan’s three for 36 from another tidy twelve overs sees him top the leading wickets column for Division 2 with 33 poles this campaign. He is nine clear of the next best bowler.
