Leaders Wokingham secured victory, Datchet are up to second, while Chesham, Horspath & Gerrards X also claimed 25 points in week 8 of HCPCL Division 2.
Wokingham (25) have extended their lead at the top to thirteen points after they chased down Oxford’s (10) total of 153 for 9 (58 overs) to win by two wickets.
After electing to bat first, Oxford found it tough going against the left-arm seam of Iain Muirden (pictured), who claimed five for 37 in a tight 18-over stint. The visiting Romans’ skipper Jack Wilkins showed resistance as he made an unbeaten 36, before the experience of left-arm spinner Ali Akbar Raja (4-37) ensured the home side kept the score under the 160-mark.
The Oaks chase was anything but easy as Wilkins (3-37) removed the top three, and soon the hosts were reeling at 38 for 5. Wokingham’s Sukhi Kang dug deep and held the chase together with a patient undefeated 49 from 105 balls. It was a knock that proved crutial as he lost partner after partner. Muirden stepped up with the willow and ensured that Tom Hampton’s team took 25 points as he hit 23 from 25 balls to get his side across the line (155 for 8).
The experience of all-rounder Steven Naylor again shone through as his performance pushed Datchet (25) up to second with a five-wicket success over Falkland (8).
After winning the toss, Falkland invited their hosts to field first. Opener Chris Baker recorded his highest score of the season as he anchored the innings with 81 from 145 balls, including 11 fours. New Zealander Elliot Seddon added a run-a-ball 51, but Naylor (3-39) and Oliver Smithson (3-36) bowled well as Falkland were bowled all out for 246 in their 58 overs.
Naylor (48 not out from 47 balls) then performed in the chase, as he guided Datchet home with an unbeaten sixth-wicket stand of 76 with Yousef Majid (31 not out). Earlier in their innings Zain Asher stroked ten boundaries as he made 60 from the opening berth, before Murad Khan injected pace into the chase with a quickfire 76-ball 75 runs, which included 5 sixes and 8 fours.
The victory takes Datchet up into second place in the table, leapfrogging Slough.
Chesham (25) had a number of key performers in their 69-run victory over Bicester & North Oxford (5) at The Meadow.
Mark Eteen’s brilliant undefeated century, along with Daniel Ward’s outstanding 86, ensured the home side declared after 54 overs on a very competitive total of 281 for 5. The duo shared a 104-run stand for the fourth wicket before Ward departed having scored 14 boundaries. Eteen continued to shine before he finished 101 not from 110 balls, which included 8 fours and 5 sixes. At the start of play, the consistent Matt Rance opened with 33.
Bicester & North Oxford’s Chris Hofen (45) top scored, while Oliver Ward smoked a 24-ball 47 runs, with 3 fours and 5 sixes. Chesham skipper Jonathan Burden and Matt Rance did the damage as both bowlers claimed three for 54. The visitors eventually succombed to 212 all out in 52.1 overs.
Chris Marrow and James Dalby performed with bat and ball respectively as Gerrards Cross (25) beat Slough (4) by 136 runs.
Marrow and his opening partner Matthew Pannett (34) gave Gerrards Cross a platform from which to build as they added 80 for the first wicket. Marrow went on to reach a fine ton before departing for 113, including 14 fours. Ben Spencer’s aggressive 33-ball, 45 runs, (3 fours & 3 sixes), projected Cross to 252 for 7 from their 58 overs. Sahaan Sahaan the pick of the Slough bowling attack with three for 55.
Syed Bukhari (29) and Humza Ishaq (30) started on the front foot as their opening stand of 54 runs in just 7.5 overs saw Slough start positively. The seam of Harry Spear took three for 36 as he claimed early victims, before Dalby ripped through the home side’s batters with five for 11 in an explosive seven-over spell.
There was plenty of drama as Horspath (25) won their Oxfordshire local derby by just five runs at Thame Town (7). A result that puts them up to fourth.
Horspath were inserted at Church Meadow with their top order all getting starts but failing to kick on. Tyron Eyles hammered 31 from just 17 balls before Josh Richardson (39) and Derval Green (28) took the visiting side to 181 all out in 43 overs. Dinny Malan’s seam picking up five for 61.
In reply, Thame lost two wickets without troubling the scorers thanks to Asad Rafiq’s opening spell. They crept to 52 for 5 before Jonathan Jelfs and Alex Browne led a fightback. Browne’s attacking nature scored him 32 from just 21 balls, before being run out. Jelfs chipped away before being caught behind for a solid 78, a knock which included 15 fours. Thame got within a scoring shot of victory before they fell just five runs short. Rafiq’s four for 22 from a controlled eleven overs playing a key part in the win.
