Datchet sneak up behind leaders after 75-run win
Top order find form at crease to lay groundwork for victory over Slough
Datchet are just a couple of points off the top in Home Counties League Division 1 after comprehensively putting Slough to the sword by 75 runs on Saturday.
Having failed to deliver with the bat in defeat to Banbury the previous weekend - their sole loss of the campaign so far the home side set about ironing out those issues against Nadeem Syed's side.
Having been put into bat the top order were at their fluent best, with four of the top five scoring half centuries.
Captain Joe Barrett led from the front, making 61, and his example was followed by Billy Mead (58), Ben Brookes (66) and Steven Naylor (55).
Slough's bowlers toiled as the hosts racked up 321-6 from their 50 overs, but teams chase high scores at the Wally Gage Memorial Ground and the visitors were initially ahead of the run rate before capitulating to 246 all out.
Afterwards Barrett said he always felt his side had a measure of control as he anticipated the visitors attempts to throw caution to the wind might just come unstuck.
The wickets were shared around but Sulaiman Akhtar finished with the hosts best figures of 3-49.
“We had been a bit short with the bat the week before against Banbury, so it was good to bounce back with 321,” said Barrett. “Four of the top five scored
50/60 runs so that's good to see and we then bowled very well.
“They have a couple of very dangerous batters, and there were a couple of moments when I felt they were maybe getting
a little ahead of the game, but I always felt we were in control. The wicket at Datchet is very good and groundsman Arun Oram has done a great job in bringing it to the standard it is now. But it's not a massive pitch. If you get 300 it's a good score but it's not one of those grounds where chasing it is impossible. You've still got to be on the ball in the field.”
He added: “Slough's batters have one way of going about things, and one way only to an extent.
“They’ll throw caution to the wind, but we always felt there was going to be a chance, or a couple of chances, or a bit of a brain explosion around the corner, and there was.”
Datchet have started the season very nicely and have so far found the kind of consistency that others have lacked. Henley dropped points for the second time this season in Saturday's 59 run defeat to Finchampstead, while promoted Wokingham got the better of High Wycombe by five wickets.
Everyone is capable of beating each other, however, leaders Aston Rowant and second placed Datchet have been the form sides so far.
“We've started well but the league is very strong this year,” said Barrett.
“The easing of travel restrictions means teams are recruiting from overseas again and the two teams that have come up, Wokingham and Slough, are also strong.
“Everyone is beating everyone so far, but we're now moving onto the longer format which might see things open up a little bit as teams can be held to draws and the points system is a bit different.
“We want to be up there come the end of the season but there are 13 games left so a lot can still happen.
“We’re strong in all departments, maybe more so now than at the start of the season. We've managed to get ourselves a couple of seamers and our overseas player is also here now so we're strong in all departments.
“We’ve got Finchampstead away this weekend and they rolled Henley on Saturday. Last season they nearly went down, but they've obviously strengthened. It will be a good test.”