Thatcham claim derby double
Just as in the previous meeting at Northcroft, Thatcham had that little bit extra in the bank to come out on top by seven wickets at Brownsfield.
Newbury put up 185-7 in the full 52 overs with Ed Uden top-scoring with 71. Ross Schreiber replied in kind, but had early support as Thatcham got home to 188-3 with more than eight overs to spare.
The result leaves Thatcham fourth in the table, 33 points behind leaders Chesham with eight matches still to play while Newbury are still 21 point away from a safety spot.
Falkland’s hopes of making a quick return to the top flight of the Home Counties Premier League seem to be all but over after their five wicket defeat at third in the table Slough.
Bowes out for 160, their target was seen off in 44 overs to dip Falkland into the lower half of the table, 49 points adrift of leaders Dinton.
fared better with a 35-run win over Wokingham II in Division Three B of the Thames Valley League.
Danny Williams’ top score of 77 took Falkland to 223-6 in the 52 overs before they dismissed the visitors for 188 with more than two overs in hand.
stretched their leads in Division Five B to 45 points with a seven wicket win over Theale and Tilehurst II, Matt Watts again finding form when top-scoring with 69 as Thatcham overhauled Theale’s target of 152 to win with plenty of overs to spare.
did their neighbours another favour by claiming a draw with second-placed Datchet II. Datchet posted 268-6 in 50 overs with Krishanmurphy remaining unbeaten on 94 before David Bloor’s 73 helped Falkland to survive to 247-9 in reply.
also won when beating NPL Teddington by one wicket in Division Six B, Tom Mahoney claiming 6-53 as they dismissed Teddington for 199 before squeezing home at the start of the 48th over with Mahoney proving to be the match-winner with an unbeaten 35 in a last wicket stand with Kevin Liversidge.
remain on the heels of the leading pair in Division Seven A after their seven wicket win over Eversley III.
Mark Guthrie took 4-14 as Newbury held their opponents to an all-out total of 133, Heath Messer, Luke Gregory and Kevin Jeffery picking up two wickets apiece.
Newbury had early losses, but Simon Digweed (45 not out) and Martin Walker (42 not out) took them home with an unbroken fourth cricket stand of 81.
collected 20 points from a four wicket win over Royal Ascot but remain second to bottom in Division Eight A. That bottom spot is held by Falkland IV, who went down by 10 wickets to Yateley III while
had the better of their draw with Cove Academy, scoring 212 before reducing Cove to 154-8 in reply with Austin Keep taking 3-30.
