Datchet’s hopes hang by a thread
Barrett’s men miss chance to make up ground
Datchet’s hopes of landing the Home Counties Division 1 title look increasingly forlorn after Saturday’s seven-wicket home defeat to Henley at the Wally Gage Memorial Ground.
Datchet came into the game hoping for a victory to put pressure on leaders High Wycombe, who are starting to inch clear at the top. However, they again came unstuck against one of their rivals at the top and on this occasion, it was a desperately poor batting display that dented their chances.
Batting first on winning the toss they managed just 97 runs in 39.2 painful overs, with Tom Nugent their tormentor in chief, taking 6-33 with Harry Jordan picking up 2-36.
None of the Datchet line up covered themselves in any glory, with Oliver Smithson producing his side’s best knock of 20 coming in at number 10. He and Sulaiman Akhtar briefly held Henley at bay, but single figure knocks from Joe Barrett (5), Ben Brookes (0), Calvin Dickinson (6) and Jonty Jenner (1) put paid to any realistic hopes of victory, even given the difficult weather conditions.
Henley also lost a few wickets, but Matthew Rowe (63) and Michael Williams (17) fired them to the brink of victory before Richard Morris (11no) and Euan Woods (7no) completed the job. Defeat leaves Barrett’s side fourth, on 183 points, 39 points behind leaders Wycombe whose match at Oxford was abandoned due to the weather. They didn’t lose too much ground on the side
above them, Banbury, after their match at Tring Park was also called off.
In Division 2 Burnham look set for relegation to the Thames Valley League after another desperately poor batting display against Harefield.
Rizwan Nadeem’s side were bowled out for just 70 runs in 25 overs, chasing an achievable looking target of 152 for victory.
The home side were put into bat and, although they hardly distinguished themselves in overcast conditions, they managed to get to 151 before being bowled out in the 40th over. Lee Tyrrell came into bat further
down the order and top scored with 42 to back up the earlier efforts of skipper Daniel Ogden (25).
Muhammad Haroon put in an impressive individual display with the ball, taking 7-65, with Shaan Khan taking 2-70, but their efforts proved in vain as, once again, the team were let down by their dreadful batting. With five matches to play they sit rock bottom on 114 points, 27 points shy of ninth placed Chesham and 35 points adrift of safety.
Sixth-placed Wargrave saw their game at Horspath abandoned after only 3.5 overs of play.