Dewick’s career best spares Oaks blushes
Wokingham (152-10) Datchet (0-0)
PAUL DEWICK produced a career best batting display to prevent an embarrassing Wokingham defeat.
The Oaks lost the toss and were put in to bat but the top order crumbled with none of the opening five reaching double figures.
And it looked like being an afternoon to forget at Sadler’s End on 73-9, only for number 11 Dewick to strike 10 boundaries in a knock of 64 not out, supported by fellow tail-ender Lewis Sharp who scored 17 off 51 balls.
That helped Wokingham reach a more respectable 152 all out and while rain prevented Datchet from taking to the crease, Dewick certainly saved the afternoon.
The Oaks made just one change from the opening day victory over Chesham with Simon Myles replacing Jack Winterbottom.
And after seeing out the first few overs, wickets began to tumble.
Stuart Parsons was the first to go having scored eight off 29 deliveries with
James Bird soon following having added six to the tally.
From 23-2, the hosts staggered to 35-5 as Dan Housego (7) and Michael Bates (4) were dismissed by Berkshire duo Chris Peploe and Oliver Birts respectively.
Datchet had their tails up and quickly moved to within touching distance of the winning post with Stuart Hayter (10) and Iain Muirden (13) the highest scorers.
That was until the final pairing of Sharp and Dewick took to the crease, incredibly pushing the score from 73-9 up to 152 before Sharp was bowled for 17 in the 50th over with Dewick unbeaten on 64 from just 54 deliveries.
Birts was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4-16 while Peploe took three wickets.
Despite struggling to finish the job, Datchet would have still fancied their chances of making it two wins from two, but the weather ensured they would not get the opportunity.
The no result leaves Wokingham ninth in the embryonic table. They host the only side currently below them in Shipton-underWychwood on Saturday.
WOKINGHAM batting: Parsons 8, Bird 6, Housego 7, Bates 4, B. Myles 0, Hayter 10, S. Myles 3, Muirden 13, Shiryar 5, Sharp 17, Dewick 64no. Extras 15.