The 1st XI have had a mixed campaign thus far in the league but continue to go well in the cups! This week saw us progress in two competitions.
On Sunday we hosted Purley-on-Thames in the Berkshire final of the Village Cup. Purley batted first and were all out for 134 after 36 overs. After the visitors got off to a rapid start against the seamers, spinners Simret Mangat (2-14) and Sav Gandesha (2-20) put the breaks on and Purley never recovered. Six of their batsmen made it into double figures but no-one managed to get past 20. Simon Foster picked up 3-31 while Greg Davis snared 2-2 in his only over (which also included a run out!) to close the innings.
In response, we lost skipper Ben Millar early on for 6 and Mark Lowden for 13. Despite this, defeat never looked likely once Christy Green (40) and Gandesha (21*) came together. Green dominated the partnership while Gandesha held an end up to protect the big-hitting middle order. Green and Davis departed in successive balls but Jake Richardson (32*) ensured that there were no further scares as we cruised to a six wicket win with 8.3 overs remaining.
In the next round we are at home to Oxfordshire champions Aston Rowant. We faced them twice in the Home Counties Premier League last season and were on the receiving end of comfortable defeats so will be hoping to put that right this time around. The game will be on Sunday 25th June, 1pm start, and it would be great to plenty of supporters to help cheer the team on to the last 16 of the competition!
On Tuesday evening the 1st XI also picked up a comfortable win in the Julian Cup at Marlow. This marks a rare semi-final appearance (does anyone know the last time we got this far?!) in a competition the club last won in 1985.
Marlow batted first and were all out for 114 after 18 overs. Their innings never got going after losing both openers for ducks. The wickets were shared around with Wasim Ahmed, Sohil Mangat and Simon Foster taking two wickets each while Simret Mangat took three.
A quick fire knock of 60 from Chris Marrow ensured that defeat was never on the cards and we strolled into the next round for the lost of three wickets with more than six overs remaining.
Next up we will face Windsor on 27th June at the neutral venue of Burnham CC in what is sure to be a competitive clash.