Thames Valley Cricket League Division 2B: Hurst 1st XI (137-3) beat Thatcham Town 1st XI (136 all out)
HURST stay in the hunt near the top of the table as they strolled a seven wicket win against Thatcham Town.
The hosts, Thatcham Town, batted first but were kept to a moderately low total thanks to some excellent bowling and fielding from the away side.
Williams top scored for Thatcham as he hit 35 runs and was followed closely by O’Flynn who knocked 32.
Hurst got an early breakthrough with the wicket of Ben Denton-Powell who was bowled out by Christopher McCarthy for a duck.
Thatcham built a partnership with Josh O’Flynn and Rhys Williams at the crease as they surpassed the half century mark before O’Flynn was dismissed by Phil Higgs on 32.
Higgs then got another crucial dismissal as he removed Williams on 35 which followed a small collapse of wickets as Thatcham went from 86-2 to 87-5 in the matter of a few deliveries.
Thatcham were unable to withstand the terrific bowling of Lewis Smith as he ripped through the batting order, collecting a five wicket haul in an outstanding bowling spell.
Higgs also bowled brilliantly as he helped to decimate Thatcham’s innings as he took 4-33, with the home side posting a disappointing total of 136 before they were skittled all out after 40.5 overs.
With a modest total to chase, Hurst batted efficiently to make sure that they claimed the points.
Hurst made light work of reaching the target set in the first innings, and a consistent opening pair of Alex Kayser and Max Carroll put on a combined total of 47 runs before the first wicket fell.
Carroll went having scored 41 runs from 45 balls and Kayser followed shortly after on 10 with Hurst on 56-2.
Lewis Smith was next to go for Hurst but provided a valuable 23 runs with the hosts control of the match with plenty of wickets to spare at 91-3.
James Watt (36*) and Oliver Lovegrove (22*) knocked Hurst over the line as they wrapped up the victory after 38.4 overs.
The win puts Hurst up to second in the table, just eight points behind league leaders Henley 2s.
Hurst batting: Kayser 10, Carroll 41, Smith 23, Watt 36no, Lovegrove 22no, Sosa dnb, White dnb, McCarthy dnb, Walder dnb, Higgs dnb, Reynolds dnb.Hurst bowling: Higgs 4-33, McCarthy 1-19, Reynolds 0-25, Smith 5-38
