Champions! Seconds come first in thrilling finish

WOKINGHAM’S second string followed on from the success of the first XI by winning the Division 3a title.

The Oaks’ 1s clinched the Division 1 title last week and the 2s followed suit, pipping WARGRAVE to top spot in 3a after the battle-of-the-top-two ended in a draw.

With both sides knowing victory for either would seal the title, Wargrave won the toss and opted to bat first at Sadlers End.

Opener Mandip Sohi (44) started strongly before Tom Prentis (42), Will Allum (37) and Neal Robinson (44no) helped push the score along to 215-7 at close, with John McDonald (2-78) the leading bowler.

And it was a far from straightforward chase for the Oaks.

While regular first teamer Stuart Parsons continued to tick along nicely, reaching 97, wickets tumbled around him as the visitors threatened victory.

Harry Staples (23) provided some resistance before the innings eventually came to a close on 157-6,

earning Wokingham six points, which was enough to win the league by just a six-point margin.

It was not all bad news for Wargrave, however, with the 13 points they garnered enough to clinch promotion too.

FINCHAMPSTEAD 3s were forced to miss out on a top two spot, despite a three-wicket win over Purley-onThames.

Finches ended just three points behind Wargrave, chasing down 138 to win their final game of the season.

Sam Taylor was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 5-37 to dismiss Purley and in reply Tom Wroot (49) top scored to chase down the win after 30 overs.

Up in Division 1, FINCHAMPSTEAD 2s’ difficult season ended in victory over Marlow.

Finches, who still finish bottom, had a tough task to try and seal the win as they were given a target of 269 to chase.

But they set about the task well

with Josh Lincoln (63) and Andy Lazenbury (54) top scoring in a fine three-wicket victory. EVERSLEY end fourth in 2a after a seven-wicket loss to Kew.

Tom Nichols’ knock of 93 helped the Boars up to 215 before being bowled out, but Kew reached the total with ease.

SONNING concluded the 2b campaign with a resounding 139-run loss to Yateley.

The league’s bottom side won just three matches all season and never looked like reaching the target of

324 to defeat Yateley with Dan Le Marquand’s 35 the top score in the innings of 184 all out.

After victory over High Wycombe 2s, HURST finish the season in fourth spot.

Alex Kayser (38), Tim Walder (36) and Phil Higgs (36no) were the leading scorers for Hurst as they closed on 218-8.

And Higgs also impressed with the ball, posting figures of 3-16, to bowl out

High Wycombe and earned a 42-run success. EVERSLEY 2s end the season

bottom of 4a after a nine-wicket loss to

Slough 3s.

Luke Casey’s 41 was the biggest score for the Boars as they were bowled out for 175, and Slough made light work of the chase.

Martin Smith’s five-wicket haul helped WARGRAVE 2s to a 76-run win over WOKINGHAM 3s in 5b.

Smith’s figures of 5-47 as well as

4-53 by Huw Thomas saw the Oaks dismissed for just 100 as they tried to chase down 177.

SONNING 2s hold on to the 6b title, despite defeat to HURST 2s.

Mohammed Atif was the pick of the Sonning players with a knock of 58 and three wickets, but could not prevent a 124-run defeat.

Kelvin Baillie (59) and Tim Everitt (52) were the leading scorers for Hurst as they declared on 280-7 before Matt Morrison’s six wickets wiped out Sonning. Elsewhere, Ben Fisher’s unbeaten 60 and a five-wicket haul from Ben Cole was not enough to prevent a 145-run thrashing for FINCHAMPSTEAD 4s away to Purleyon-Thames 2s.

Down in 7a, EVERSLEY 3s held on to a draw against North Maidenhead 3s, closing on 163-9 chasing 223 while

WOKINGHAM 4s finished seventh after a five-wicket loss to Theale and Tilehurst 2s.

Wazir Khan’s 61 could not prevent

SONNING 3s from losing by threewickets against Hayes 4s in 8a and in the same division, FINCHAMPSTEAD 5s drew with Windsor 4s.

WARGRAVE 3s clinched the 9a title after a low-scoring four-wicket win over Cookham Dean 4s.

Tom Walker’s figures of 4-37 helped bowl out Cookham for 110 and Wargrave chased down the target.

That win, coupled with a 108run defeat for previous leaders

WOKINGHAM 5s against Newbury 3s.