Cookham Dean's title dream realised as Wokingham 2nds falter on final day

There was a huge cheer from spectators as Cookham Dean passed the 148-run mark in pursuit of Sonning’s total of 197, and while the hosts never looked capable of chasing that target, 148 was the magic marker that signalled the title was coming back to Ricketts Field.

Dean and title rivals Wokingham went into the final day of the TVL Division 2A season separated by just a point in the table - with Wokingham leading the way - so Dean skipper Greg Davis knew his side had to better their result on the final weekend to take the title - and with it promotion back to the top division in the Thames Valley League where he believes they belong.

This they managed, but it proved to be a nervy afternoon for players and spectators at the recently renovated club house, with focus veering between their own match with Sonning, and Wokingham’s clash away to Finchampstead.

Having been set a target of 198 for victory, Dean began their innings poorly, with Sonning taking crucial wickets and generally playing very well. However, at the same time, Finchampstead were making a very solid chase in their attempts to get past Wokingham’s total of 208.

 When Wokingham’s nine-wicket defeat was confirmed, a message was relayed to the final two batsmen, James Le Flemming (20) and Jake Lawson (22no) that they simply had to edge past 148 to seal the title. This they did, finishing on 153 all out in 44 overs, enough to earn them nine points compared to the five Wokingham picked up from their defeat at Finchampstead.

 Reflecting an emotional-filled afternoon, Davis said: “We lost the toss, and they bowled first, which is what we’d have done anyway. They got off to a flyer and then the nerves started setting in. They were 100 after four overs and I was thinking ‘not like this on the last day’. But we managed to bring it back to a very chaseable total.

“At teatime we were checking Play Cricket, and we saw that Wokingham had managed to get to 208. We thought that was a defendable total, they’d defended that quite a few times this year. Finchampstead hadn’t been in great form, so we thought that maybe they had enough.

“But we had an okay start and then wickets started to fall in frequent intervals. But at the same time, we were watching play cricket via the scorecard and saw that Finchampstead had got to 100-0 off 17 overs. It helped settle the nerves a little but then Play Cricket froze for an hour. Credit to Sonning, they bowled some spectacular balls and took some great catches, and it was threatening to rain on our parade.

“But after an hour Play Cricket refreshed and Finchampstead were 201-1 whilst we were on 130-9. That’s when the calculations were coming out. We knew how many we needed to get the bonus points we needed to secure the title. A message was run out to our boys in the middle, number nine and number 11 who’d done a fantastic job to slowly accumulate runs. Once they hit the 148 there was a big cheer around the ground and once again when they got to 150 to just guarantee the title and promotion.”

The result capped off a wonderful season for the club, with Dean’s second and fourth team also claiming promotion on the final day and their third team comfortably staying up in their division having been promoted last summer. There was also great success for the junior teams with the u19s also winning their title and the u17s winning every match through to the final at their age group.

“I think it’s probably the most successful year the club has ever had,” added Davis.

“If you include the u19s going undefeated, the u17s winning all but one game in the final.

“The 3rds maintain their place in their division after promotion last year and the three senior men’s side promotions. It’s also the most victories in a season ever so that’s going to be difficult to replicate in the coming years. I would imagine we won’t see three teams promoted on the final day again, and the 1sts and the 2nds being promoted came within a few minutes of each other – thanks to play cricket you can track the games live.

“What a phenomenal weekend for the club and one we’ll remember for a very long time.

“We were maybe a bit young and inexperienced for Division 1 when we got relegated. Now they’re at the perfect age for Division 1. The disparity between Division 1 and Division 2, especially the second half of Division 2 is quite big. There were some games when, not decided before a ball was bowled, but you’d be unlucky to have lost one of those games. It’s good to be back at the level we’d been at for a very long time. We now have an exciting winter and season next year to look forward to.”