Oxford produced an unlikely victory as they recovered from 78 for 6, chasing 212 for victory against Bicester & North Oxford. Dylan Swanepoel produced a defiant display as he made 79, and found support from his skipper Jack Wilkins (15). His work was added to by Barney Carey, who guided his side home with an unbeaten 44.
Earlier, Farhaan Khan top scored from an opening berth with 71 against his former club, while New Zealand overseas Samuel Payne made 40, as the visitors were dismissed for 211 off the penultimate ball of their innings. Julian Laird was again amongst the wickets for the second week in succession. The Sussex Academy spinner claimed four for 33 for the Romans.
Humza Ishaq produced an outstanding all-round display as Slough delivered a successful chase for the second week, this time at Horspath.
Ishaq’s spin put the breaks on Horspath’s innings after opening pair Sravan Konidena (65) and Vivek Narayan (72) had put on 120 for the first wicket. He finished with five for 39 from his ten-over stint.
Slough’s innings saw Ishaq open with 42 valuable runs, before Mohammed Avas (34) continued in a positive fashion. Mujtaba Ghayyas and Yash Lakhani shared a match-winning unbeaten stand worth 72 runs for the seventh wicket from just 8.1 overs. Ghayyas finished 37 not out, while Lakhani hammered a 21-ball undefeated 40, including 3 sixes.
Wokingham made it back-to-back wins with a 27-run success against Datchet at The Wally Gage Memorial Ground.
Visiting captain Tom Hampton elected to bat after winning the toss and Wokingham proceeded to see Dan Housego hold the first part of their innings together. The former Middlesex batter amassed 75 from the number three position. After Imran Malik made 34, it was wicketkeeper-batter Sukhi Kang who showed experience as he took Wokingham to 276 for 9. Kang closed on 59 not out.
The left-arm seam of Iain Muirden gave Wokingham an early advantage, but Nick Kimber and Steven Naylor held firm, before the latter had to leave the field with Datchet effectively 65 for 4. Kimber eventually fell as the seventh wicket, just five short of a deserved century, with 81 still required from the 9.1 overs remaining. Naylor returned to the crease and added momentum, before departing for a run-a-ball 44. It was to be Muirden and the experience of former Berkshire spinner Ali Akbar Raja who restricted the home side, as both bowlers finished with four wickets each. Datchet were dismissed for 249 with just nine balls remaining; Muirden returned with four for 55, while Raja picked up four for 59 to give Wokingham another maximum.
Falkland collected their first victory since returning to the league as they defeated Chesham by 26 runs at the Enborne Lodge Ground.
The home side’s top order all made contributions as they posted 231 for their visitors to chase. Skipper James Bird (34), wicketkeeper Ben Piper (56), Richard Morris (38) and Seb Chapman (40) amongst the runs before Chesham captain Jonathan Burden wrapped up the innings with four for 43.
In reply, Henry Moore (30), Mark Eteen (46) and Ranvir Sinha (31) all got starts but Chesham lacked someone to take them deep into the chase. Matt Bond’s three for 38 proving vital as the visiting side were bowled out for 202.
A third wicket stand of 131 runs between Adam Ali and Lloyd Paternott played a big part as Thame Town recorded a three-wicket victory at Gerrards Cross.
The pair took the visitors from 16 for 2 to 147 before Paternott left the field hurt. Ali continued from the opening spot before being caught for a solid 74. Paternott returned and took his side within eleven runs of the win as he finished with a 78-ball, 79 runs. Thame made it across the line with 4.3 overs left.
Earlier in the day, Thame’s bowling attack of Dinushka Malan, Devane Warner and captain Hassam Mushtaq all claimed three victims apiece as the hosts were removed for 262 in 47.2 overs. Henry Walsh (41), Hugo Hammond (34), Ben Spencer (75) and Patrick Smith (31) found form, but it was Malan (3-39), Warner (3-43) and Mushtaq (3-51) who all enjoyed success with the ball.
