Failure with the bat costs Thatcham against Reading

Thatcham suffered a first defeat of their Thames Valley Cricket League Division 4a season as a batting collapse condemned them to a 41-run loss against Reading 2nd.

Having lost the toss and been sent out to bowl, Thatcham soon had the visitors on the back foot and struggling at 50/4 as Mike Green, George Wheeler and Stephen Bartholomew all claimed early scalps.

However a well-made 103 from opener Pavandeep Chima, who scored well over half his side’s runs, helped Reading recover to post a competitive 178/9 from their 45 overs.

In response, the hosts made a similarly wobbly start to their chase, losing four of their top five for single figures as they slumped to 68/4.

Opener Michael Klichowicz dug in as he looked to keep his side in the game but when he was bowled for a battling 43, Thatcham’s chances suffered a near-fatal blow.

Still, needing 86 more runs with five wickets and more than 16 overs in hand, the Trouts remained in with an outside chance and Jamie Young and Ben Denton-Powell reduced that requirement to 50 runs from 50 balls.

However, Young was given out lbw for 13 before the wicket of Denton-Powell for 21 ended Thatcham’s chances as the Trouts were bowled out for 137.

There was better news for the second team, who won for the first time this season as a stellar bowling performance helped them to a four wicket triumph over Henley 3rd.

After winning the toss and opting to field, Olly Thorne (2-22) and Joshue Reeves (2-22) made light work of the top order before Arunganesh Madhasaravan (2-19) and pick of the bowlers Rhys Williams (4-27) reduced the hosts to 160 all-out.

Thatcham’s chase wasn’t exactly convincing but 31 from opener Alistair Cooper and an unbeaten 40 from Chris Rochfort saw them over the line with four wickets to spare.