Scorecard

Wargrave v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 27 Aug 2016 at 12.30
Match was Drawn

Match report A solid team performance saw Thatcham come out the better from a draw with fellow strugglers Wargrave on Saturday.

Thatcham skipper Duncan Johnson won the toss and decided to bat first and Scott Gibson and Peter Spriggs put on 43 for the first wicket with both players looking in fine fettle. Gibson had reached 24 off just 30 balls before he miscued a pull shot to Thomas off the bowling of Charlie Moss. Tom Flack joined Spriggs and the pair added another 30 runs before Flack fell lbw to the spin of Sohi for 14. Spriggs was next to fall and having hit Clark for three sumptuous boundaries in a row, the last a signature shot through his favoured mid-on area, he then offered a straight forward chance to gully and was on his way for 37. Jack Andrews and Steve Bartholomew then took up the mantle and pushed the score on, adding a further 45 runs to the total before a mix up saw Andrews run out for 21 when he was looking set for a big score. Bartholomew didn't let this affect him though and together with Will Wright, the pair took the game to Wargrave. Bartholomew was a joy to watch with his powerful driving and Wright was the perfect foil, rotating strike and finding the boundary when the chance came. The pair took the score up to 195-4, Bartholomew passing an 82 ball half century before he fell to the spin of Huw Thomas for a fine 54. With ten overs left it was a perfect time for John Williams to show his hitting game but on this occasion he didn't get started and was caught and bowled by Wargrave skipper Neal Robinson for 5. Duncan Johnson joined Wright and the last six overs of the innings proved fruitful for the visitors. Wright reached his half century off 72 balls with four 4's and two towering 6's and Johnson hit a quick 21 from 15 balls to get his side up over the 250 mark as Thatcham finished their 52 overs on 252-6 with Wright unbeaten on 59*.

All five Wargrave bowlers picked up a wicket each with Mandip Sohi probably the pick with his 1-44 from 12 overs, including five maidens.

With Thatcham missing the league's 2nd highest wicket taker Chris Bird with a badly broken finger, it was down to John Williams and Duncan Johnson to provide the spin threat as Thatcham opened up with the old ball to try and sneak a couple of early wickets. Williams did just that as Imran Malik ran down the track only to watch as the ball fizzed past his outside edge and keeper Joe Lawrance did the rest, Malik stumped for 7. His opening partner Mandip Sohi took a real liking to Williams however as he smashed the left arm spinner for three 6's and five 4's in a blistering counter attack leaving skipper Duncan Johnson no option but to take the new ball in a bid to change the momentum. Wargrave were 58-1 through the first 12 overs and in good shape. Skipper Neal Robinson had joined Sohi and the pair took the score up to 90-1, Sohi reaching a 39 ball half century before Callum Johnson struck in his third over, Sohi going for one shot too many and dragging a slower ball onto his stumps for 64. Johnson finished a fine spell of 7 overs with 1-36, his figures no justification on the way he bowled and with the dangerous Sohi back in the hutch, the spin of Williams was brought back into the attack. Duncan Johnson then struck as he removed his opposite number Robinson, bowled for 25 and although former Surrey 2's player Dan Pratt was at the crease, the visitors sensed an opening. Wargrave were still well placed in the chase though as they reached 143-3 through the 30 over mark compared with Thatcham's 126-4 at the same stage. Pratt was the key as he passed his half century from just 47 balls and was looking set. Williams was determined to make his mark however and he tempted Luke Taylor into a big shot only to find the safe hands of Matthew Denness to depart for 9. The big wicket of Pratt followed soon after as he attempted an audacious switch hit off Williams which he nailed, but only to Tom Flack on the mid-wicket boundary and he took a good catch to send Pratt on his way for 68. You'd have to question the shot selection at that stage of the game but the visitors were obviously very pleased to see the back of a very fine batter. Duncan Johnson then struck a double blow as he had Sunil Kumar caught by Steve Bartholomew for 7 and the very next ball he cleaned bowled Matt Townson. Charlie Moss survived the hat-trick ball and together with Sam Bowers, the two youngsters had a choice to make. Wargrave were 186-7 through 42 overs, at the same stage Thatcham were 188-4 so the game was finely balanced. With only 6 overs left for the home side to bat and 67 runs required to win, the message came out to the middle to shut up shop and deny Thatcham the 25 point win which would have surely sent Wargrave down. The two young lads batted sensibly and did the job required as they finished the innings on 212-7 from their 48 overs. Thatcham picked up 13 points from the draw and Wargrave 8 points in a tense but entertaining encounter.

Duncan Johnson was the pick of the visitors attack picking up 3-53 from 17 overs with John Williams 3-70 from his 17 overs. Callum Johnson was the other wicket taker with 1-36 from his 7 over spell.

It all now boils down to the last week of the season, Thatcham are 18 points in front of Wargrave with just the one game left. This means it's now between Thatcham and Burnham 2's who are both locked together on 219 points and Wargrave who have 201 points as to who joins Chiswick & Whitton playing Division 3 cricket next season.

Another twist in the tail is that three clubs could be relegated from Division 2 this season as the HCPL clubs coming down are both Thames Valley teams in Gerrards Cross and Cookham Dean. This being the case will mean that the lowest placed 8th side in either Division 2a or 2b could also be relegated. Currently Marlow Park fill 8th spot in 2a on 211 points, so both Thatcham and Burnham 2's are 8 points ahead. It's a complicated scenario with several permutations but all Thatcham need to do is win their last fixture at home against Slough 2's and any lingering relegation worries will cease to exist.


Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 6w 10b  
for 6 wickets
18
252		        
Scott Gibson ct Charlie Moss 24 30 3 1 80.0
Peter Spriggs ct Jack Clark 37 43 8 86.05
Tom Flack lbw Mandip Sohi 14 33 1 42.42 1
Steve Bartholomew ct Huw Thomas 54 82 6 2 65.85 1
Jack Andrews Run out  21 23 4 91.30
Will Wright Not Out  59 72 4 2 81.94
John Williams ct Neal Robinson 4 5 80.0
Duncan Johnson Not Out  21 15 3 140.0
Joe Lawrance   1
Matthew Denness   1
Callum Johnson  

Wargrave Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Jack Clark10.0150150.005.00
Charlie Moss6.0127127.004.50
Mandip Sohi12.0544144.003.67
Neal Robinson16.0079179.004.94
Huw Thomas8.0042142.005.25

Wargrave Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2nb 2b 3lb 
for 7 wickets
7
212 (48.0 overs)		     
Mandip Sohi b Callum Johnson 64
Imran Malik st John Williams 7
Neal Robinson b Duncan Johnson 25
Daniel Pratt ct John Williams 68
Luke Taylor ct John Williams 9
Sunil Kumar ct Duncan Johnson 7
Sam Bowers Not Out  7
Matt Townson b Duncan Johnson 0
Charlie Moss Not Out  18
Jack Clark  
Huw Thomas  

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
John Williams17.0370323.334.12
Duncan Johnson17.0253317.673.12
Callum Johnson7.0136136.005.14
Will Wright7.014800.006.86

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Chris Bird