Green narrow the gap on Division 1 league leaders
Thames Valley League: Gagan Singh’s side beat third-placed Ickenham by 135 runs
Having defeated Ickenham by 135 runs, Stoke Green have closed the gap on Division 1 league leaders Gerrards Cross to just three points with two weekends left of the cricket season.
Following a considerable loss at Falkland last week, Green seemingly vented their anger on home turf on Saturday,
Batting first against a thirdplaced Ickenham side, Gagan Singh’s men managed a modest 241-7 from 50 overs with thanks to Jamie Odell (41), Rizwan Nadeem (48), Simranjeet Singh (26), and Pavinder Bhachu (66no).
Joe Danns, meanwhile, proved to be Ickenham’s best bowler and claimed 3-41.
In reply, Elliot Evans’ men were bowled all out after 106 runs (29.1 overs) as Danns (33no) struck the best figures with the bat while Singh and Gurveer Singh took 3-16 and 3-25 respectively.
Boyne Hill are perched in fourth place after beating lowly Burnham by 162 runs at the weekend.
Having been inserted on foreign turf, Hill posted 250-7 from their 50 overs with notable contributions coming from Nabeel Janed (70) and Imran Butt (93).
With the bat, Burnham tallied up just 88 all out from 20 overs as Samad Fallah wellsuppressed the hosts.
Elsewhere in the division, Cookham Dean fell to a 187run defeat from Falkland and, as a result, slip to seventh.
At Ricketts Field, Falkland won the toss and opted to bat first. In a stellar showing, the side managed 354-9 from 50 overs with James Bird (128) top-scoring despite Sohil Mangat (3-74) and Will Dempster’s (3-64) best efforts with the ball.
In their innings, Dean could only chalk up 167-10 from 29.3 overs. Greg Davis knocked 61 runs as best batsman, but James Bird (4-18) and Tom Ettridge (3-49) were on hand
to stifle the remaining order.
In Division 2A, Marlow find themselves back in the top five after they were able to overcome Bushy Park by seven wickets.
Batting first, Park were restricted to 111 all out from 29.4 overs chiefly by Rehaan Samdani (3-15) and Shakil Ahmed (3-33).
In reply, James Martin’s men surrendered just three wickets, managing 113 runs from 17 overs owed to Imran
Nawaz (54) and Kester Charlemagne (28no).
Despite their 70-run defeat to High Wycombe 2nds, Wraysbury remain in third place this week.
Upon winning the toss and electing to bat first, Wycombe totted up 335-5 from 50 overs. Archie Dodds swatted 112 and Jai Angel later obtained 108 runs as the side’s most prolific batsmen.
Wraysbury came close in the chase, achieving 265 all out from 42 overs with thanks to Andy Prasad (77), Naeem Baig (36), Rizwan Ahmed (33), and Hikmatullah Kakar (37no).
In Division 2B, ninth-placed Royal Ascot lost to Sulhamstead & Ufton by 42 runs, while Hurst climb into the top three having beaten Binfield by seven wickets.
In Division 3A, Aldershot defeated White Waltham (10th) by 35 runs, Windsor (fourth) beat Theale & Tilehurst by three wickets, and Sonning trumped Thatcham Town (ninth) by 247 runs.
In Division 3B, Maidenhead & Bray are clinging onto third place after a 57-run loss to Harefield 2nds, and ninthplaced Farnham Royal lost to OMT by four wickets.
Elsewhere, Taplow (fifth) were beaten by five wickets to Falkland 2nds in Division 4A, while Wooburn Narkovians (second) beat Beaconsfield 2nds by four wickets and Cookham Dean bested Farnham Common (fifth) by two wickets in Division 4B.