As the final round of red ball cricket was played, it sets up an interesting final four fixtures, all being pink ball, limited overs.
Saturday saw the leaders Slough (6) defeated by 39 runs as Thame Town (25) visited the Eddie Thompson Oval.
After being inserted, Thame posted 173 all out after positive contributions from Jonathan Jelfs (50), and a solid undefeated 46 from skipper Hassam Mushtaq. Sahaan Sahaan returned with outstanding figures of six for 34 from his 13.4 over spell.
In reply, Slough’s batters never fired and despite Vishnu Solanki (30) and Umair Mushtaq (31) getting starts, they struggled against the seam of Dinny Malan (4-36) and spin of Alex Browne (3-36), who eventually removed them for 134 all out. Malan is now up to 43 poles for the campaign.
Second placed Wokingham (25) took advantage of the leaders faltering, as they recorded a seven wicket win over Chesham (7).
The highlight of the chase being a second wicket partnership of 163 between opener Imran Malik (86) and recent new signing Archie Carter from Henley (75).With Shaan Khan (50 not out) and Billy Rogers (39 not out) building on the platform that was laid they saw their side across the line (271 for 3 from 49.5 overs).
Earlier, Moiz Rana stroked a brilliant century, including 16 boundaries, as he shared an opening stand worth 81 with Matt Rance. Rana was out for 101 as promising Bucks Pathway player, Daksh Sabherwal, who has just recorded a thousand runs for the county, impressed with an unbeaten 35. Chesham made 267 for 8 from 58 overs.
Horspath (25) continue to break club records as their victory over promotion rivals Gerrards Cross (10) sees the Oxfordshire side leapfrog them into third place.
It was Sravan Konidena (pictured) who made an outstanding 130 as he shared a record 182-run opening stand with Tom Nichols (62) to set up their sixth win of the season. Konidena’s knock lasted 164 minutes, he faced 111 balls, and he hit 17 fours and 3 sixes. Teddy Fleming claimed four for 65 but the home side now have eyes on Division One in 2026 having been promoted after wining the Cherwell League only last year.
Gerrards Cross had earlier made 252 for 8 from their 58 overs, mainly thanks to an opening stand of 113 between Chris Marrow (86) and Matthew Pannett (60). Amin Rafiq taking three for 54.
The two basement clubs, Falkland and Bicester & North Oxford, collected just five points between them as they will need to show more in the final four games.
Bicester & North Oxford (3) made just 78, with opener Josh Towell scoring 30 of them, as they suffered a seven-wicket defeat at home to Datchet (25).
Oliver Smithson (3-14) and Girish Radhakrishnan (3-18) the chief destroyers, before Rahim Akhtar (28) and Nick Kimber (32 not out) eased their side to victory.
It was much the same for Falkland (2) as opener Chris Baker carried his bat with 64 not out as the Berkshire-based outfit were removed for 115 in 43.3 overs against Oxford (25).
Brendon Smith’s five for 18 for the Romans with the ball, backed up by the highly-rater Julian Laird, who made 61 from just 49 balls, and light work of the situation.
