Home Counties Cricket League Division 2: Wokingham 1st XI (234 all out) drew with Oxford Downs (203-6)
Wokingham remain in fourth place in the division as they were held to a draw by Oxford Downs.
The visitors won the toss and put Wokingham into bat first. The opening pair of James Bird and Archie Carter got the Oaks off to a promising start as they fell just shy of the half century mark when the first wicket fell, with Carter dismissed on 28.
Danny Housego was next to the crease and managed to total 18 before he was caught out by Frankie Crouch, bowled George Sandbach.
Simon Myles joined Bird at the middle, and the two formed a valuable partnership as Wokingham put some quick runs onto the board. Bird’s innings was put to a stop as Sandbach claimed his third wicket of the match to remove him on 75, with the score at 147-3.
Wicket keeper Michael Bates proved to be another consistent partner for Myles as the two batted Wokingham over the 200 mark. Sandbach continued his brilliant bowling streak to remove Myles on 55, with Wokingham on 212-4.
The next wicket came quickly as Bates (38) then followed as Sandbach continued to trouble the Wokingham batting order.
Wokingham couldn’t continue their strong batting performance as a stream of wickets continued to fall as Lawrence Brock gained three consecutive wickets. Sandbach then removed Iain Muirden (4) and ran Paul Dewick out (1) to take the final wicket.
Wokingham finished with a strong total of 234 from 58 overs.
The hosts got an early breakthrough as they set to defend their target, James Bird catching out Freddie Smith for a duck, bowled Iain Muirden.
Will Watts and Chris Sandbach put some runs on the scoreboard for Oxford before Michael Bates caught Watts out on 16, bowled Simon Myles, with the score at 40-2.
The Oaks enjoyed a clinical spell of bowling as they took through more wickets in quick succession to put Oxford’s innings in danger. But with Oxford on 55-5, George Sandbach provided some resistance to the fall in wickets.
They batted Oxford over the century mark before George Sandbach was dismissed for 34 with the score at 128-6.
Wokingham looked in a strong position to take victory, however Richard Sillars and Curtly Slatter formed a formidable partnership to frustrate the Oaks.
Sillars hit eight fours and two sixes as he scored 77 and Slatter contributed 41 as Oxford held their nerve to hold the match to a draw after finishing on 203-6 after 56 overs.
Wokingham batting: Bird 75, Carter 28, Housego 18, S Myles 55, Bates 38, Parsons 1, B Myles 4, Clark 7, Muirden 2, Uttley 1no, Dewick 1.
Wokingham bowling: Clark 0-37, Muirden 1-40, Dewick 0-39, S Myles 4-49, Uttley 1-26, Bird 0-8.
