Bray get the better of Datchet

League leaders Maidenhead & Bray got the better of Datchet in the race for Thames Valley League Division 2A on Saturday.

A poor fielding display meant Nick Tilley’s side were unable to restrict Bray’s reply and ended up on the wrong end of a defeat.

In fact, the fielding was so bad that the skipper believes any more performances like that and his side will not win another game.

“If we field like that again we won’t win another game all season,” reflected Tilley.

“We started off fairly badly with the bat and had a few decisions that didn’t go our way. We were staring down the barrel at one point but showed character to get to 192.

“We then started okay with the ball but had too many dropped catches. I think there were about five or six and you can’t do that if you want to win matches.”

Datchet won the toss and chose to bat on an overcast day with a slow outfield.

Bray got off to the best possible start when Coyne dismissed Tilley for nought with a run out on the third ball of his over.

Batsman Tim Alldis then came to the crease and, as the man in form, Bray needed to get him out early. Rather frustratingly though, the players were ordered off the field before he could face a ball as the rain began to fall.

After a half hour delay and the loss of two overs, play was resumed with Alldis pulling a short ball from Coyne (5-60) to get himself caught out, forcing at full length right down the throat of long-off.

Coyne claimed his second wicket the very next ball with an lbw and Datchet were in trouble at 17-3.

At around 70-6, Datchet looked like they were going to struggle to reach one hundred and it took a good partnership to get them over that mark and secure them at least a couple of points.

Valambhia came into the attack and ended the partnership which allowed Lambert to the crease at number nine. He played an uncharacteristic innings of 50 to put his side back in the match.

With a few poor decisions, Bray struggled to bowl the visitors out but eventually did so after 47.5 overs for 192.

Bray got off to the worst possible start as Gully Khan fell with the score at 1-1.

Dangerman Bashir then came to the crease and kept Bray’s confidence alive.

Sadly though, Lambert got him with a peach of a delivery that snicked the edge and carried through to first slip. Bray, now 1-2, were severely on the back foot.

Fifteen-year-old Karen Kumar was next to the crease and he batted with extreme confidence and maturity to build a partnership of 70 alongside Chris Kennedy (71) before Kumar had to retire hurt.

Faisal Choudhary arrived and made a valuable contribution before exiting for lbw.

Vishal Arjan did not last long, bringing Kumar back to the crease after having treatment for his injury. However, the umpires decided that he was not permitted to return to the field as he did not declare himself injured. They did, however, offer Tilley the opportunity to call him back to the field, but the skipper decided against it and play resumed.

“The player went off the pitch and didn’t tell the umpires,” stated Tilley. “So when he returned, the umpires made the decision that he couldn’t play on. That’s why they are paid £35 a week.”

Bray quickly found themselves seven down but, happily for skipper Coyne, lost no more wickets as Hewitt (28 not out) and Ramzan finished the innings off in spectacular style to give Bray victory and a final total of 196-7.

Tomorrow (Saturday) Datchet take on Chiswick & Latymer and Nick Tilley is hoping for a better performance. He said: “We want to consolidate our position and have a good game of cricket.”