Daylight and gloom for threatened pair

Thatcham beat Fleet to clamber off the bottom of the table while Falkland's match with Radlett was halted by rain

THERE was relief for Thatcham and further frustration for Falkland after one got what they wanted and the other was left stymied in their bids to escape the foot of their respective tables on Saturday.

While Thatcham were clambering off the bottom of the Thames Valley League Division One table after winning at Fleet, Falkland's hopes of following suit were washed out by the rain that more than decimated the cricket programme on Saturday.

Falkland had put themselves into a winning position at fellow strugglers Radlett. Jim Ettridge, recalled from the seconds, made 108 and Bruce Martin scored 65 as Falkland posted 255-8 before declaring in the 56th over.

It was always going to be a question of hoping that the rain would hold off, but it arrived after Falkland attacker Neil Gunter had snapped up two wickets to leave the home side reeling at 14-2 when play was halted in the fifth over.

That left Falkland with the statutory six points, and still trailing Radlett by two at the bottom of the rankings.

Meanwhile, Thatcham were winning their clash of the bottom two at Fleet in Division One of the Thames Valley League.

Thatcham held the home side to 160 in 46 overs before Ali Naqvi's 66 tipped the game their way as they got home to 161-6 in 43 overs to pocket 20 points and move outside the bottom two.

Newbury were among the few clubs to see action, and they beat Henley III by six wickets to move back into second place in Division Three B.