The Promotion And Relegation Issues Are Close To being Finalised For The 2025 Home Counties Premier League season.
League leaders Slough recorded their tenth win of the campaign as they defeated Oxford by 113 runs at The Eddie Thompson Oval.
After winning the toss and batting first, the home side posted 227 before being bowled out off the penultimate ball of the innings. Arsalan Oberoi (61) and Sahaan Sahaan (43) were in form for Slough, while Jack Wilkins (3-48) and Saqlain Choudhary (3-44) did the damage for the visitors.
Barney Carey opened with 40 but Oxford batters struggled as seven players only made single figure scores. Kazim Naqvi (3-30) and Mujtaba Ghayyas (3-29), the Slough bowlers, who performed with the ball.
The result sees Slough needing 12 points to gain promotion.
Wokingham eased to a nine-wicket win over a Bicester & North Oxford side who were relegated.
The left-arm seam of Iain Muirden produced a match-winning spell of six for 22 from just eight overs, while Ayush Tyagi chipped in with four for 23 as the visiting team were bowled all out for 121 in just 27.2 overs. New Zealand overseas Samuel Payne top scored with 55 for Bicester & North Oxford.
Imran Malik (37), Shaan Khan (32) and Dan Housego (34) were all undefeated, with the latter retiring, as Wokingham close in on returning to Division One at the first attempt following relegation in 2024.
Gerrards Cross survived an early scare to edge to a three-wicket win at Datchet at the Wally Gage Memorial Ground.
The visitors were reduced to 7 for 3 after an outstanding early spell by Girish Radhakrishnan (3-21). But Hugo Hammond (33) and Ben Spencer (46) led the fightback to keep up their outside chance of promotion.
Datchet opener Steven Naylor (28) top scored as the hosts posted 131 all out as James Dalby’s four for 33 claimed the victims for the away team.
Horspath returned to winning ways as they successfully chased down Falkland’s total in a result which all-but relegates the Berkshire side back to the Thames Valley Cricket League.
An unbeaten 109-run fifth-wicket stand between Tom Coleman (68) and Stephen Green (44) proved to be a big factor in the game for the ‘path (240-4 from 41.4 Overs). Coleman’s knock came off just 67 balls and contained 12 fours.
Falkland batters were amongst the runs as Chris Baker (43), Bobby Brown (47), Brandon Gilmour (47) and Ben Piper (60 not out) all performed as they posted 238 for 6 from their 50 overs. Josh Richardson’s three for 38 ensuring Horspath remain fourth.
Moiz Rana and Jonathan Burden were in outstanding form as Chesham beat Thame Town by 151 runs at The Meadow.
Rana, who recently made his National Counties Championship debut for Bucks, opened up with a brilliant 96 for Chesham as his innings came from 104 balls and contained 15 fours. With the support of Andy Goddard (48) and Daniel Ward (32) the home side made 259 for 9 from 50 overs. Thame opening bowler Dinny Malan continues to harvest wickets as he claimed four for 38 from his ten overs. Malan has taken 55 wickets in the Home Counties competitions; 53 leagues and 2 cup.
Chesham skipper Burden produced a devastating spell of six for 31 from ten overs as Thame were bowled out for 108 in just 20.5 overs. Ubaid Kiani’s 40 the biggest contribution for the Oxfordshire team.
