Ijaz’s five-wicket haul gives Hurst the win over Thatcham
USMAN IJAZ secured a fivewicket haul as Hurst eased to a first win in three weeks with victory over Thatcham Town.
After back-to-back defeats in 2b, Hurst lost the toss and were forced to bowl first.
But the visitors struggled to build any momentum throughout the contest with Ijaz posting figures of 5-52 while Floyd Na Nagara also took three wickets as Thatcham were bowled out for 197.
And Hurst made light work of the chase, clinching an eight-wicket win as Alex Kayser top scored with 74 not out while Na Nagara (54no) and Ijaz (23) took their good form with the ball to the crease in the second innings too.
In the same division, SONNING slipped to the foot of the table after a 106-run thrashing by Beaconsfield.
A century from David Heavyside put Beaconsfield in command as they declared on 261-4 to give Sonning a tricky challenge.
And they could not get near to the target with
Zahid Mohammed (53) and Duncan Parr (20) the top scorers as the hosts were bowled out for 155.
EVERSLEY stay seventh in 2a after drawing with Chesham 2s.
The Boars shared the wickets around as they bowled out Chesham for 197 with Andrew Niblett (3-34), Matt Reardon-Brown (2-20) and Mathew Salter (2-35) all contributing.
But the home side struggled with the bat, eventually scrambling to a draw on 133-8 with Niblett (37) and Jack Ford (35) top scoring.
Anthony Clapham produced a fine display with bat and ball as WOKINGHAM 2s climbed into the 3a promotion spots.
Clapham’s figures of 3-41 were only bettered by 3-29 from John McDonald as the Oaks dismissed Purley-onThames for 188.
And they chased down the total with six wickets in hand as Clapham (38no) and Ben Myles (65no) saw them over the line after a 36 from Matthew Loxton had set up the innings.
FINCHAMPSTEAD 3s moved up to third in the table with a five-wicket win over Newbury.
Finches shone with the ball as Ollie Bareham (4-35), Sam Taylor (3-20) and Dave Higginson (2-19) helped bowl out Newbury for just 91.
And while the visitors made heavy work of the reply with Ash Hull (28no) and Matthew Eldridge (26) top scoring, they did clinch the win.
Unbeaten WARGRAVE are still the team to catch after thrashing Chiswick and Whitton by seven wickets.
Chiswick posted a total of 172 before being bowled out with Jack Clark (5-39) and Huw Thomas (3-23) tearing through the order.
And it was a no nonsense chase with Mandip Sohi
(52) and Dan Davis (44) leading the charge with 19 boundaries between them as the 25-point win arrived in the 21st over.
EVERSLEY 2s remain rooted to the foot of 4a after a seven-wicket defeat to Bagshot.
The Boars batted relatively well, posting a competitive target of 232 to win as Matthew Martin (68) reached a half century while Ben Martin (36), Richard Ford (31), Jon Last (24) and Kevin Manning (23) all contributed solid knocks.
But it was with the ball where Eversley let themselves down, allowing Bagshot to reach 234-3 to win in the 47th over.
WOKINGHAM 3s climbed up to seventh in 5b after a thrilling 10-run victory over high-flying Boyne Hill 2s.
Boyne, who were unbeaten and top of the league, must have fancied their chances after dismissing Wokingham for 174 with Edward Fox-Smith (61), David Healey (41no) and Matthew Taylor (26) the only men to post scores of note.
But the Oaks would not go down without a fight, also impressing with the ball as Charlie O’Brien (3-26) and Martin Wilson (3-51) helped bowl out Boyne for 164 as they moved agonisingly towards the winning post.
WARGRAVE 2s slip into the relegation zone after a five-wicket defeat to Maidenhead and Bray 2s.
Chris Lunn’s knock of 97 helped Wargrave to 194 all out, but Maidenhead comfortably reached the target.