Tanzil’s impressive all-round display helps Green extend lead
On a weekend of mixed fortunes for Stoke Green, Sukh Dhillon’s side moved 21 points clear at the top of the Thames Valley League Division 1 table with a six-wicket victory over Falkland.
They’d probably have traded the win for progression to the final of the National Village Cup the following day, but this is still shaping up to be an excellent season for Green, despite their semi-final disappointment at Calmore Sports.
On Saturday Green took full advantage of second placed Gerrards Cross seeing their match with Slough 2nds abandoned and marched clear at the top of the table.
They opted to field on winning the toss, and Falkland posted a competitive total of 159-9 from 46 overs, with James Bird (65) and Tom Ettridge (34) scoring well. However, Munir-ur
Rehman Tanzil (4-54) and Gurveer Singh (3-24) kept the home side on a tight leash, and the visitors needed less than 35 overs to knock off the runs for the loss of only four wickets.
Saqlain Basharat scored an impressive 61 but Tanzil led the way for Green, scoring 85 in a fine all-round display.
Rainfall caused the cancellation or abandonment of several matches in Division 1, but Cove did manage to play out their overs with one wicket to spare for a draw with Beaconsfield. They finished on 192-9 chasing Beaconsfield’s 231-3 declared.
It’s still nip and tuck at the top of Division 2, after leaders Henley and second placed Marlow saw their matches cancelled due to the weather. Marlow, who had been due to host ninth-placed Maidenhead & Bray, are just five points adrift of Henley, who were set to welcome Datchet 2nds before heavy rainfall intervened. Only two matches were possible, with Hayes drawing at home with Tring Park 2nds and Hounslow & Whitton beating Amersham 2nds by five wickets. Neither result is likely to affect matters at the top of the table. Marlow visit Hounslow this Saturday while Henley go to Tring Park.
Hurst saw their home game with Wokingham 2nds abandoned due to rain showers. The home side had posted 123-10 and had Wokingham wobbling at 34-3 when the players were forced off.
Leaders Eversley took full advantage of others’ misfortune, recording a five wicket win over Fleet to move 21 points clear at the top. It was the only game in the division played to its conclusion and they collected 25 very important points with five matches left to play.
It was a similar story in Division 3A where all of the promotion contenders saw their games called off. Fifth placed White Waltham had to abandon against leaders Sulhamsted & Ufton, while others in the title frame, most notably Sonning and Windsor, also saw their games called off.