Datchet suffer shock Thames Valley Cricket Division 2a defeat

By Rob Stevens • Published 20 Aug 2012 15:11 0 Comments

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DATCHET CC suffered defeat in Division 2a of the Thames Valley Cricket League for the very first time this summer after a four-wicket loss against Basingstoke & North Hants 2nd XI.

Tim Alldis' team had beaten all before them this year but Saturday's loss gives second-placed Eversley hope of beating the Wally Gage Memorial Ground-based club to promotion - with the two sides set to meet in a title-decider this weekend.

Captain Alldis took the decision to declare at the end of the 41st over with Datchet 319-1 - thanks largely an unbeaten 130 from Nick Tilley and Connor Gallagher's innings of 85. Surprisingly, though, Alldis made the decision to take his team off the field of play just four runs short of his own century.

Even more astounding, however, was Basingstoke's reply, knocking off the runs with just 20 balls remaining for the loss six wickets.

Richard Vinn - who helped himself to an unbeaten 123 against North Maidenhead earlier this month - top scored with 90 while Leon Nurse also reached his half-century (58).

Datchet remain 20 points ahead of their nearest challengers Everlsey but defeat on Saturday could see a change at the top of the leader board with a further two games to play.

North Maidenhead slipped to a third consecutive league defeat after a heavy-eight wicket loss against Eversley at Summerleaze Road - all but ending their chances of finishing in the top two.

Eversley's Chris Last returned figures of 6-58 as Maidenhead were dismissed for 210 - a target that was comfortably chased with Scott Dyer unbeaten at the crease on 77.

In stark contrast, however, Windsor recorded their third straight victory after a 32-run win against Fleet at Home Park.

Vishal Nair blasted a century (104) and captain Adam Weston continued his good form with an innings of 52 as Windsor set a target of 231-6.

Doug Ferguson smashed 123 for Fleet but wickets fell at an alarming rate around him and the visitors were eventually dismissed for 199.

Slough 2nd XI remain bottom of the division despite a narrow two-wicket win at high-flying British Airways (BA).

Rishi Sharath took figures of 5-52 as BA were reduced to 218 - a target Ali Beg's team reached to give themselves hope of avoiding relegation into the third tier of Thames Valley cricket.

Boyne Hill extended their lead at the top of Division 2b to nine points - despite a two-wicket defeat at title contenders Burnham 2nd XI and being deducted a point by league officials.

Captain Tom Mellor top scored with 73 as Boyne Hill set a target of 238-8 with Naveed Bashir acting as Burnham's chief destroyer with impressive figures of 7-74.

Taz Nawaz made 58 as Burnham recorded victory with just 12 balls to spare - though they were later deducted five points by the league.

Maidenhead & Bray missed the opportunity to close the gap on Division 3b leaders Tring Park 2nd XI after a losing draw at home to Wokingham 2nd XI.

Tom Wilding's team fell just 17 runs short of Wokingham's target of 217-9 while leaders Tring suffered a 64-run defeat against Chennies & Latimer.

Stoke Green had their lead at the top of Division 4b cut to just 10 points - despite an eight wicket win against Reading 3rd XI.

Richard Parker returned figures of 6-47 as Reading were bowled out for a modest 118 before Stoke knocked off the runs with opening batsman Gully Khan making 66.

Finally, Farnham Common remain fifth in Division 5a after a winning draw against Marlow 2nd XI at One Pin Lane.

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