Cookham Dean failed to take the opportunity to extend their lead over other promotion contenders with a disappointing performance at Hayes, who were missing keyman Michael Green.
Having been inserted to bat on a bouncy wicket, Dave Brooks (24) and Ben Millar (42) made decent starts as they put on 60 for the first wicket, before both were bowled playing towards the legside against the seemingly innocuous Shane Morgan (2-23). Most of the Cookham batsmen contributed, with topscorer Tom Bibby (50) and Christian Austin (48) playing well to add 78 for the fifth wicket. However, they too fell when well set, meaning the innings could not accelerate as the visitors would have liked. Nonetheless, Cookham closed on 242-8 from their full allocation of overs, with medium-pacer Tom King picking up four wickets, whilst going for 77.
Imran Butt gave Cookham a great start when he broke the middle stump to dismiss Simon Green in the first over, and when big Amit Patel struck five overs later, Hayes were in trouble at 27-2. However, runs began to flow as Rishi Ramneth (34) and Martin Funnell (25) added 61 for the third wicket. Chris Nunn (2-33) and Tom Rosenthal (2-45) provided the control Cookham were looking for, and when Hayes were reduced to 151-7, the Dean fancied their chances of wrapping up a 25 point victory. However, some sloppy fielding and good batting by Hayes stalwart Keith Wallis, batting at eight, provided stubborn resistance. Pres Patel (2-23) effectively eliminated any chances of defeat by picking up two of the three wickets required for victory, but Wallis remained unmoved, blocking out Amit Patel's final over to deny Cookham, whilst reaching a deserved fifty in the process. Hayes finished 24 runs short of their target.
Due to Windsor's win against Finchampstead, Cookham were knocked off top spot, but their 15 points were enough to ensure they stayed in the top two at the halfway stage.

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Cookham Dean Cricket Club 1st XI Batting
244 for 8
Player Name Runs Mode of dismissal Catches Stumpings Run outs
Dave Brooks 24 Bowled 1
Ben Millar 42 Bowled 1
Sawan Gandesha 23 Caught
Tom Bibby 50 Bowled
Imran Butt 5 Caught
Christian Austin 48 Bowled 1
Rory Millar 13 Not Out 1
Chris Nunn 3 Bowled
Tom Rosenthal 7 Caught
Amit Patel 1
Pres Patel

Hayes Bowling
Player Name Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Average Economy
R. Kumar 16.0 1 54 1 54.00 3.38
C. Wayland 16.0 1 67 1 67.00 4.19
S. Morgan 6.0 1 23 2 11.50 3.83
T. King 16.0 3 77 4 19.25 4.81

Hayes Batting
218 for 9
Player Name Runs Mode of dismissal
S Green 4 Bowled
R Ramneth 34 Caught
V Farooq 13 Caught
M Funnell 25 Lbw
C Frost 13 Caught
M Arshad 4 Caught
R Kumar 6 Run out
K Wallis 54 Not Out
S Morgan 19 Bowled
C Wayland 9 Lbw
T King 0 Not Out

Cookham Dean Cricket Club 1st XI Bowling
Player Name Overs Maidens Runs Wickets Average Economy
Imran Butt 6.0 1 31 1 31.00 5.17
Amit Patel 7.0 0 49 1 49.00 7.00
Chris Nunn 12.0 5 33 2 16.50 2.75
Tom Rosenthal 11.0 3 45 2 22.50 4.09
Pres Patel 8.0 0 23 2 11.50 2.88
Sawan Gandesha 3.0 0 17 0 0.00 5.67
Tom Bibby 1.0 0 5 0 0.00 5.00

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