Thames Valley League: Marlow go top of TVL Division 1 after eight-wicket win over Eversley

Phil Lines

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Marlow are the new leaders of the Thames Valley League Division 1 after Saturday's impressive eight-wicket win over Eversley.

A season of consolidation may have been expected from Phil Lines' newly promoted side, however, four wins from their opening five matches suggests they may well be mixing it with the leading sides at the top of the division.

Marlow have certainly shown no fear in their first five matches, despite the captain's protestations that there would be quite a step up in quality from Division 2A to Division 1.

Back at home after their narrow nine-run win a Beaconsfield, Marlow proved too strong for an out-of-sorts Eversley side on Saturday.

Surprisingly, given the damp conditions of the morning and early afternoon, Eversley opted to bat on winning the toss and they managed a more than defendable 195 all out, a total they reached in 39.1 overs. With the ball, however, they had no answer to a supremely confident batting display, with the hosts reaching their target for the loss of only two wickets in 30.3 overs.

Marlow are back at home again on Saturday when they host Boyne Hill, who've slipped to fourth in the standings following their surprise nine-wicket defeat to Cookham Dean.

On a day when the toss proved crucial, Hill lost it and were put into bat in unfavourable conditions. With the ball swinging around thanks to some impressive bowling from the visitors, Boyne Hill were bowled out for just 79 runs. This was chased down by Cookham for the loss of one wicket in 17.1 overs.

Boyne Hill will look to bounce back in Saturday's clash with the leaders while Cookham travel to Reading.

Having made a bright start to the TVL Division 2A season, Windsor's downturn in form continued with a 47-run defeat to Uxbridge on Saturday.

Ryan Lewin's side won their opening two matches this season, but three straight losses leave them eighth in the table, nine points above Wraysbury who've made a similarly uncertain start.

On Saturday, Windsor failed to chase down their opponents score of 220 all out as they were bowled out for 173 in 42.4 overs. Uxbridge were indebted to the efforts of Ahsen Shaikh (45) Leo Fernandes (39) and Fahad Jaffery (38) for getting them past the 200 mark, despite some impressive bowling from Trevor Langworth (3-35) and Charlie Jackson (3-39). In reply, Windsor were rocked by the early dismissals of Vamshi Lingala (6) and Vishal Nair (4) and while Karl Ziemkendorf dropped anchor for 35 from 60 balls, they came up 47 runs short.

In similar circumstances, Wraysbury were beaten by 35 runs against Old Merchants Taylors in the same division.

Having elected to field, Wraysbury watched on as OMT put on 292-9 from their 50 overs. Driving them forward was a brilliant innings of 124 from 105 balls from Rayaan Hussain. In reply, the hosts got close, but not close enough as Jayesh Mohan's 53 helped them to a creditable 257 before being bowled out.

In Division 2B, Burnham's impressive start to the season was derailed by a 54-run defeat to Sonning who are now their closest rivals at the top of the table.

Adnan Shabbir's side elected to bowl on winning the toss and they managed to dismiss their hosts for 189 in 46.5 overs. Mishen Silva led the way for them, taking 4-33 with Zain Ishaq also doing well with 3-22. However, captain Peter Higginbottom's 52 at the top of the order gave Sonning a chance on a tricky afternoon for batsmen.

Imran Butt matched his efforts with 53 for Burnham, but aside from Shabbir's 31, there were fewer players who contributed as the visitors were bowled out for 135 in 40 overs. The victory for Sonning cuts Burnham's lead at the top to just a point ahead of this weekend's matches where Burnham host Wokingham and Sonning host Slough 2nds.

Maidenhead & Bray continue to keep pace with the leading sides in TVL Division 3B after Saturday's four wicket win at Burnham 2nds.

Having elected to field on winning the toss, they bowled Burnham out for 145 in 35 overs with Jaiswal taking 3-24 and Parham 4-28. In reply Viney hit 45 and Talalla 22 as the visitors reached 149-6 in 31.1 overs. It leaves them third in the table, level on points with second placed Farnham Royal who defeated Gerrards Cross by 168 runs. In the same division. fifth placed Wooburn Narkovians were handsome 114 run winners over Hounslow & Whitton.