WOKINGHAM began a pivotal run of fixtures with a brilliant 65-run triumph over Chesham at Sadlers’s End.
The Oaks play the four teams around them in Division 1 of the Thames Valley Cricket League in the next few weeks and got this schedule off to a perfect start, with Saturday’s victory seeing the side closing the gap on the top two once again.
Wokingham’s track produced more than 460 runs the week before during the club’s draw with Kew and it would favour batsmen once again – particularly in the first session.
Chesham arrived in town holding a 27-point lead over the opposition in second place and would challenge the hosts to set a target upon winning the toss.
But they would concede 54 runs before the first wicket, that of opener Stuart Parsons on 22, was to fall, and then another 88 before claiming a second wicket.
Gone on this occasion was Dan Housego, but not before running up a top score of 67, of which 40 came via boundaries.
Also producing a watchful contribution was fellow former professional Michael Bates, who would celebrate a half century 53 which arrived from 67 balls.
Both would fall to the bowling of Asad Rehman (4-64) and the departure of the wicket-keeper would trigger a collapse as Chesham began neutralising the innings.
Only captain Stuart Hayter (11) and Simon Myles (19) ventured in to double figures within the rest of the line up, which fell from 158-3 to 210 all out.
Joining Rehman in interrupting the session was Pip France, who also snared four victims for the cost of 53 runs.
Wokingham’s demise, however, may have been a sign the strip was on the turn, as a number of Chesham batsmen also came and went in quick succession.
Yet this could also be down to some lethal bowling from Jack Wood and Paul Dewick. The latter has been influential with the ball in recent weeks and was back at his destructive best once again, with three of his four wickets on the day helping pin the visitors back to 65-5.
Luke Webb would put a temporary halt on proceedings with a defiant 58, but when he played a catch to Stuart Hayter to give Cameron Spence the first of two dismissals (2-20), the writing was all but on the wall for the Buckinghamshire side.
Another resolute stand would come via Gift Kwatsha, who totted up 37 from a 70-ball stay, but he was unfortunately the last man to go, removed by Dewick, who was to celebrate a four-wicket haul (4-27) for the second weekend running.
The spinner was responsible for cleaning up the majority of the lower order, which despite really troubling the scorers almost lasted the distance.
Their replay was about the enter its 48th over before Dewick had the final say as this win, Wokingham’s fourth in five games, moved them to within nine points of their opponents and 16 behind leaders Stoke Green, whom they face next Saturday.
Finchampstead Cricket Club
DEFEATING Tring Park by six wickets has put Finchampstead back in pole position in Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier League.
While closest rivals Henley and Banbury were held to a draw and beaten respectively, the table toppers were going about their business in comprehensive style.
Finchampstead’s remarkable rise to the top upon their return to the top flight has largely been indebted to a lethal bowling attack, but Matthew Carter and Jandree Coetzee were the stand out performers on this occasion.
Berkshire star Carter was in bloodthirsty form and would leave the field clinching devastating figures of 6-46, while partner in crime Coetzee put paid to the other four wickets, with the return coming at the cost of just 57 runs.
Between them, and some good work in the field, visiting Tring were shot out in the 26th over for just 110.
Such was their dominance on the opposition, skipper Marles felt no other bowler was needed during the session.
Losing Andrew Rishton to a golden duck did not get the chase off to the best of starts, while Andrew House (15) was back in the pavilion 31 runs later.
Matt Jones, for 11, and Greg Smith (8) also went without failing to make any sort of impact, yet the hosts were never really in any trouble.
The arrival of Dan Lincoln at six would put an end to any further dismissals.
He top scored with 74 during the impressive win at High Wycombe the previous week, while Marles also notched a half-century in the same game.
And while not needing to be as prolific on this occasion, both were among the runs once again, with the captain leading the reply with an unbeaten 48 as Lincoln made a quick-fire 25.
Their efforts saw Finchampstead past the winning post in the 28th over, with this result seeing them open up a 18-point lead ahead of a trip to Slough this Saturday.
