Newbury head for title showdown weekend

Skipper Charlie's record-breaking haul leaves his team one win game from promotion

NEWBURY will go into the final weekend of the Thames Valley League season in top spot in Division Three A after Saturday's nerve-jangling seven-run win over Cove II.

It needed a career-beat 8-29 from skipper Charlie Anstey to sweep his side to victory and keep them four points clear of chasing rivals Yateley.

Newbury had slumped from 79-2 to 107 all out at Grasmere Road as Anstey's rival skipper, Ali Anthony, ripped out the tail to take 5-9 in seven and a half overs.

John Duncan (29) and Simon Holland (20) led Newbury's scorers, and Newbuyr's hopes depended upon being able to rattle the home side, who had been dismissed for only 25 in the previous meeting at Northcroft.

When they were 6-3 after seven overs, it all seemed to be going to plan, but Carter's 35 and 14 from Tomsett got them back in touch before Anstey trapped the latter LBW and Kevin Mills uprooted Carter's off stump.

Despite a rallying 21 form Taylor, Newbury sensed their chance and with Rajeev Hanabe claiming a vital wicket, Anstey did the rest as Cove were all out for 100.

Thatcham went down by three wickets to Amersham in their penultimate game in Division One, John O'Flynn top scoring with 82 in Thatcham's 171 all out before Amersham got home to 178-7 with a little more than four overs to spare.

Falkland's final home game with Welwyn Garden City was called off.