Billy Dodds brilliant innings helped give High Wycombe (25) a seven-wicket victory over Henley (7) at London Road.
Almost two years to the day since his Home Counties debut at Wokingham, Dodds produced a magical knock as he gave his side the win with an unbeaten 148. He shared a second wicket stand of 104 with Aadi Sharma (33), and a third wicket partnership worth 140 with Dan Lincoln (75 runs, 63 balls, 7 sixes and 3 fours) as Wycombe (294-3) reached their target (291-8) in 46.1 overs. Dodds faced 138 balls and scored 26 boundaries, four of which were maximums, recording his highest-ever top-flight score.
Earlier, Johnny Connell (81) and Matt Dalrymple (85) started the day with an opening stand of 149 for the visitors. The duo hit 26 boundaries. Charlie Dunnett (33) chipped in but they were pegged back by the Wycombe skipper, Cameron Parsons (3-55) and Josh Lincoln (3-89).
Chris Britz performed with ball, then bat, as Finchampstead (25) eased to a seven-wicket success over Wargrave (4)to keep up the pressure at the top.
The South African all-rounder claimed five for 15 from a devastating seven-over spell as only the visiting skipper Toby Greatwood (32) showed resistance. Wargrave were dismissed for 137 in 44.2 overs.
Britz then hit an undefeated 48 from just 41 balls, with 6 fours and 2 sixes, while Berkshire’s Ben Salter supported with 36 not out, as the pair took their side to the win.
Auckland Aces Louis Delport’s all-round display helped Oxford Downs (25) stay third as they defeated Great Brickhill (3) by 158 runs.
Delport hammered 104 from just 80 balls (11 fours and 4 sixes) to help take Downs past the 300-mark (307-6) before they declared after 52 overs. This after all of the Downs batters contributed; George Sandbach (47), Luke Maslen (32), Freddie Smith (36) and Tom Cosford (30).
After Aum Raykar got Brickhill off to a quick start with 52 from just 45 balls, including 7 fours and 3 sixes, Delport’s left-arm spin (3-38) put Downs in a good position, while Tom Costley finished the visitors off with a blast of five for 19. Brickhill all out for 149 in 48.5 overs.
Harefield (25) are fourth after they won a dramatic encounter at Stoke Green (12) by just one run.
The game’s advantage swung backwards and forwards between the two sides as the afternoon displayed the very best of red ball cricket.
After Harefield opted to bat, Passikku Madusanka claimed four for 73 to leave the visitors on 117 for 8. Jordan McLeod fought back for the Hares as he hit an unbeaten 70 from just 64 balls, hitting 4 fours and 3 sixes. He shared a ninth-wicket partnership of 54 with Tarun Earpen (33) before adding an unbeaten 48 for the last wicket with Charlie Dale (10 not out). Harefield posting 219 for 9 from 64 overs.
Passikku made 31 as Stoke Green began their chase, before Karanpreet Singh came in at number five and dug in. McLeod performed again (3-47) but the home side edged to within just eight runs of victory with four wickets in hand. Harefield claimed the big wicket of Singh for a brilliant 61, as two wickets fell for just two runs, with Green going from 212 for 7 to 214 for 9. Green’s last pairing of Danyaal Ishaq and Zulfiqar Butt held their nerve as they took their side to one run behind. It was the Hares skipper Stephen Croft who claimed the last wicket, his fifth from his 15.2 over spell, as they took the maximum 25 points.
The Banbury (25) seam duo of Matt Jones and Brad Taylor set up their side for a seven-wicket success down the M40 at Aston Rowant (4).
Jones (5-20) and Taylor (4-48) did the damage as they removed Rowant for 122 in 46.3 overs. Things could have been worse for the home side but Oxfordshire’s Hayden Rossouw (32) led the recovery from 36 for 5.
The visiting openers then gave their side an ideal platform as Lloyd Sabin and Joe White both made 34 in the chase, putting on 75 for the opening wicket. Banbury eased home for their third win of the campaign.
