The leaders returned from Chesham with their ninth victory after recording a four-wicket win.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Slough restricted their hosts to 153 all out as Mujtaba Ghayyas removed four of the top five batters to finish as the chief destroyer (4-66). Kamran Khan top scored for Chesham with an unbeaten 30.
The chase saw opener Humza Ishaq (38) give Slough a positive start, before Mohammed Avas (34) and Vishnu Solanki (34 not out) both chipped in to see their side home.
Derval Green’s display helped Horspath (25) inflict a 144-run defeat over a Wokingham (3) side who, having been unbeaten in their opening eleven games, have now lost back-to-back fixtures.
After Sravan Konidena made 47 opening up, the Jamaican international recorded a brilliant undefeated 141, which came from just 91 balls, and surpassed the club’s previous highest score in the league. His flambouyant knock included 13 sixes and 8 fours as he hammered the visiting bowling to all parts of the ground. At the other end, the experience of Robbie Eason saw the ‘path legend feed his team mate the strike as he amassed a solid 69. Another record was equalled as the pair added 169 for the fifth wicket and in doing so, gave Wokingham a mountain to climb.
After Horspath had posted 283 for 6 from their 58 overs, their visitors soon fell to 13 for 3 at tea. Konidena (3/24) claimed his third victim as Wokingham were 35 for 5, which became 78 for 8 after Green had got the leather in his hand. Despite some late afternoon resistance, Wokingham were eventually dismissed for 139 all out. Green adding three for 15 to his amazing knock for a game that will go down in Horspath’s history. The victory sees Amin Rafiq’s side extend their unbeaten run to nine games, a stretch which sees them positioned fourth in the table.
The division’s leading wicket taker, Dinny Malan, claimed another six victims in Thame Town’s (25) six wicket win against Datchet (7).
Malan took his season’s tally to 41 wickets when he took six for 43, as he spearheaded Thame’s attack. The visitors posted 231 all out in 56.3 overs with Nick Kimber (66) and Murad Khan (34) finding form with the willow.
A 120-run third wicket stand aided Thame’s run chase as the contrasting styles of Ubaid Kiani and Alex Browne delivered. Browne’s whirlwind 46-ball, 86 runs, included 10 fours and 5 sixes, while opener Kiani anchored the chase with gritty determination, finishing undefeated at the end on 82 not out from 128 balls (13x4s). Kiani also shared a 75-run stand with fellow opener Alex Tervet (37).
Bicester & North Oxford (25) recorded their first win of the campaign as defeated Falkland (7) in a relegation scrap at Akeman Street.
Josh Towell and Marcus Jeacock combined to set up the home side for a much-needed maximum as they reached their target five wickets down. Towell opened with a vital 60 (50 runs in 79 balls, 101 minutes (9×4)) while Jeacock held firm to close 44 not out with a patient, but necessary knock.
After electing to bat, Falkland’s innings never got started as only Ben Piper (30) and late order gusto from Mark Otley (44 from 40 balls) made contributions. Bicester & North Oxford will be pleased how their bowlers all worked hard in a pressure fixture, with Daniel Savin’s three for 25 the pick.
Gerrards Cross (25) closed the gap on the second promotion place to just eight points as they enjoyed a six-wicket success against Oxford (5) at Jordan Hill.
The Dukes Lane outfit have shown excellent form of late, which sets them up with a real chance of playing at the top level next season.
Harry Spear (4-34) and James Dalby (4-36) got into the home side’s batting line up as four players got starts before being dismissed. The dependable Julian Laird (38) and Brendon Smith (35) top scored before Oxford were bowled out for 146 in 43.2 overs.
Ben Spencer (31 not out) and Hugo Hammond (45 not out) steadied the nerves as they shared an undefeated 77-run partnership for the fifth wicket to help complete a successful chase. Matthew Pannett (36) helped set up the victory from an opening berth.
