FALKLAND CC crashed to a second straight Thames Valley League Division One defeat as they lost by 77 runs at Kew, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors made a sensational start as Hamza Riazuddin (3-37) and Mark Baker reduced Kew to 4-3, but Kamran Younas and captain Will Shaw steadied the ship.

The latter departed with the score on 49, but Younas (100) and Guy Darwin (32) then shared an ultimately match-winning stand of 124. A late flurry from Sean Abbott (41 off 26 balls) saw the home side to 219 all out, despite the best efforts of Daminda Kologula (3-20).

Falkland’s reply never got going, with only Jason Williams (53no) offering any real resistance as they were dismissed for 142.

Falkland visit Boyne Hill this coming Saturday (1pm).

Thatcham Town dominated their draw with Beaconsfield in Division 2b.

Opener Josh O’Flynn top scored with 94 for the visitors as they closed on 202-9 in their 52 overs.

Beaconsfield never really looked in the hunt in reply, but despite John Williams taking 5-50, Falkland could not dismiss the home side as they ended on 174-7.

Thatcham Town host Burnham 2nds on Saturday (1pm).

In Division 3a, Stuart Goddard starred with bat and ball as Newbury drew at home to Aldershot.

He took 4-56 as the visitors made 236-8, and then made 68 in the run chase as Newbury closed on 182-8.

Newbury visit Finchampstead 3rds this Saturday.

Berkshire made their exit from the Unicorns Trophy when losing by two wickets to Devon at Exmouth on Sunday.

Preparations did not go to plan as they were forced to make two changes to the squad named last week.

Skipper James Morris discovered his injured left thumb was fractured and not dislocated as he was originally told and is now in plaster, while Chris Peploe received a one-match ban from the Minor Counties Cricket Association following an incident which occurred during the win over Oxfordshire the previous week.

They were replaced by youngsters Billy Rogers (Finchampstead) and Brandon Gilmour (Downend) with both making their Trophy debuts.

Richard Morris (Henley) took over the captaincy from his brother and soon joined Gilmour at the crease, as openers Waqas Hussain (0) and Michael Roberts (2) were dismissed in the first three overs.

Morris (60 off 70 balls) and Zimbabwe-born Gilmour (28) added 96 for the third wicket to take the total to 99, but both departed in in the 24th over.

This brought together Euan Woods and Rishton and they put on 28 before Woods fell for 13.

Rogers joined Rishton and they put on 53 for the sixth wicket, taking the total to 181 after 44 overs.

Rishton was dismissed for 35 and five runs later Rogers was bowled for 28.

Their Finchampstead team-mate, Matt Carter, contributed nine runs and Berkshire were all back in the pavilion for 216, with Zak Bess taking 4-22 off 9.3 overs.

Carter then opened the bowling and captured the first three Devon wickets, leaving the hosts 56-3.

Devon skipper Rob Woodman improved his side's position with a half century, but when they lost their eighth wicket at 174 with seven overs remaining, a Berkshire victory seemed possible.

However, that changed as Dominic Bess, in particular, and cousin Zak Bess decided that attacking the bowling was the best course to take in a win-or-bust situation.

Dominic, making his Trophy debut, smashed 56 off 44 balls, while the more patient Zak hit 16 off 21 in an unbroken partnership of 44 as Devon reached their target off the first ball of the final over.

Berkshire can now concentrate on the three-day championship, which starts on Sunday, June 5 when they take on Herefordshire at Colwall CC.

Berkshire Women lost by 14 runs to Warwickshire at Wokingham CC on Sunday, their first defeat in three games The visitors were all out for 200, having made a late recovery after being 123-7. Skipper Heather Knight was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 10-7-13-2.

Berkshire made a good start to their innings with Knight and Linsey Smith putting on 97 for the first wicket. But Smith's departure for 40 triggered off a major collapse and only one other player, Sherisa Gumbs, managed double figures with 16.

Knight was on 92 (135 balls) when the 10th player out with the total on 186 off 48.1 overs.