Promotion hopefuls Oaks are in pole position
Wokingham (176-2) Great and Little Tew (174-8)
WOKINGHAM are in pole position to clinch promotion from Home Counties Premier 2 at the first time of asking after a comfortable eight-wicket win over Great and Little Tew.
The Oaks, who only came up from the Thames Valley League this season, have moved up to second spot with only three games to play in what is set to be a thrilling finale.
Having won the toss, Wokingham opted to field first at Sadlers End and got off to a blistering start, reducing Tew to 1-2 with openers Iain Muirden and Lewis Sharp claiming a wicket apiece.
That score soon became 22-4 as Muirden and Sharp struck again before Simon Myles got Tom Bradbeer caught behind to leave the visitors stunned on 35-5.
But they showed some fight to cross the 100 mark with Joe White’s knock of 37 off 108 balls crucial as well as an unbeaten 70 from Curtly Slatter.
Tew batted out their 50 overs, closing on 174-8 with Jacob Clark joining Muirden and Sharp on two wickets.
But that chase looked more than achievable for Wokingham, who have lost just twice all season.
Stuart Parsons fell early for 13 while fellow opener Archie Carter reached 19 before being clean bowled to leave the hosts on 39-2.
But that proved to be the end of the wickets as Danny Housego (72no) and James Bird (61no) produced impressive knocks, hitting seven boundaries apiece to cruise across the line in the 44th over.
The 20 points leave Wokingham second in the table, 42 points behind runaway leaders Buckingham but level with third-placed Chesham and only 12 points separate Wokingham in second and Saturday’s opponents Harefield in sixth.
WOKINGHAM batting: Parsons 13, Carter 19, Housego 72no, Bird 61no, Wood dnb, Myles dnb, Hayter dnb, Clark dnb, Muirden dnb, Sharp dnb, Dewick dnb. Extras 11.
Bowling: Sharp 2-29, Muirden 2-24, Myles 1-27, Clark 2-43, Bird 0-10, Dewick 1-36.