Home Counties review: Wargrave leapfrog Datchet after 63-run win over Division 1 rivals

Wargrave moved above Datchet in Home Counties Division 1 after claiming a deserved 63-run victory over Billy Mead's side at home this weekend.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, the home side put on 302-9 declared from 63.3 overs, with Berkshire skipper Dan Lincoln smashing an impressive 118 from 180 balls before being run out by Caleb Falconer. With Toby Greatwood also in fine form at the crease with his 62 from 49 deliveries, Wargrave put themselves in a commanding position at the changeover.

However, improving Datchet came into the contest unbeaten in three matches, having restored confidence with victories over Wokingham and Finchampstead

Mead would have backed his side to go for the win, and initially they made good headway with Rahim Akhtar (52) and Mead (38) keeping the visitors up with the required run-rate. The loss of Calvin Dickinson for four and Caleb Falconer for 12 hindered their progress, but Steven Naylor's 54 kept them in the hunt.

To chase the home side's score, Datchet would have needed to bat well throughout the order, but aside from Arjun Tendulkar (22) none of their bottom five batsmen managed to get into double figures and the chase petered out for 239 all out in just under 52 overs.

Despite the defeat, Datchet remain only 38 points behind leaders Finchampstead in eighth place. Wargrave are a place and three points better off in seventh.   Datchet host Oxford Downs on Saturday while Wargrave visit Great Brickhill.

  In Division 2, it proved a disappointing weekend for both of the area's sides as Slough and Stoke Green both fell to defeats. 

Nadeem Syed’s Slough fell to a 21-run defeat at home to Gerrards Cross in a match that looked to be theirs for the taking at one stage of their chase.

 Electing to bat after winning the toss, Cross managed 258 from 54.1 overs before being dismissed, with openers Chris Marrow (70) and Fahim Qureshi (56) sharing a century opening stand. Middle order runs dried up significantly, but captain Patrick Smith's half century (52) carried the side to a defendable total. 

In reply, Slough got close, but not quite close enough as they were skittled out for 237 in 47.2 overs, having been on 220-5.

The chase looked to be on when Saqlain Basharat scored 96 and five of Slough's top order managed to score more than 20 runs. However, Teddy Fleming troubled the tail with his bowling, taking 4-57 to snatch back the initiative.

Still, Slough would have expected to reach their target, but the scoreboard pressure rose with every wicket that fell, with   Syed Bukhari (4), Umair Mushtaq (0), Nadeem Syed (0no) and Alim Dhanani (0) all dismissed for few runs added.

 Despite the defeat, Slough remain fifth on 105 points, 52 points behind leaders Harefield.

Stoke Green will also be scratching their heads and wondering how they failed to win at Chesham on Saturday.

Having won the toss, hosts Chesham made just 139 runs in 47 overs, but it proved enough as Stoke Green's batting line-up crumbled under the pressure of their chase. 

An excellent bowling display from the visitors - with Gurveer Singh taking 4-14 and Passikku Madusanka 3-61 - wasn't matched by their batting. 

Richard Levi's 54 from 98 runs for Chesham proved the difference. 

In reply, Karanpreet Singh (30) Madusanka (42) and Rizwan Nadeem (27) all did reasonably well, but too many wickets fell for too few runs with the skipper Singh and opener Aatish Anthathi both dismissed for a duck. Jonathan Burden took 5-65 and Matthew Rance 3-17 as Green were held up nine runs short on 130 all out in 37 overs.

This Saturday, Slough visit the leaders Harefield in a match they must surely win if they're to revive their promotion hopes. Stoke Green are at home to Amersham.