Wargrave edge closer to the title

STRONG batting displays from Chris Lunn and Luke Taylor saw Wargrave edge ever closer to clinching the Division 3a title.

Leaders Wargrave lost the toss against relegationthreatened Chiswick and Whitton, who put the hosts in to bat.

And the title-chasers got off to the ideal start before a spate of wickets saw Lunn (60) and Taylor (42) both dismissed.

Neal Robinson contributed an important 44 not out as Wargrave closed on a competitive 231-7.

And it was Robinson leading the charge with the ball, posting figures of 3-62, but Chiswick held on to draw with a total of 209-8.

That result puts Wargrave 12 points clear at the top and 40 clear of third-placed Finchampstead 3s as the season enters its final two weeks.

WOKINGHAM 2s remain the nearest challengers after they saw off Purley-onThames by six wickets.

Jack Fisher claimed five wickets as the Oaks bowled out Purley for 190 and good knocks from him (37), Simon Carter (45) and Matthew Loxton (62) clinched the victory in the 37th over.

FINCHAMPSTEAD 3s demolished Newbury by 115 runs.

Ben Cole (6-27) and Sam Taylor (3-38) did the damage with the ball to bowl out the visitors for 117 after top batting from Matthew Eldridge (105no) and Tom Wroot (84) had set a target of 233 to win.

Up in 2a, EVERSLEY are up to fourth after cruising past Chesham 2s.

Andrew Niblett stole the show with his knock of 143 to help the Boars to a total of 202 and Nick Rigg (3-25) and Chris Last (3-26) helped bowl out Chesham to win by 52 runs.

SONNING have slipped out of 2b after a 170-run thrashing by Beaconsfield.

They looked to have given themselves a chance by beating Aldershot last time out, but despite three wickets each for Adeel Chaudry and Jason

Pennisi, poor batting saw Sonning bowled out for

98, which leaves them 49 adrift with only two games to play.

HURST stay fourth after a 72-run loss against Thatcham Town with Phil Higgs (43) top scoring.

EVERSLEY 2s kept their slim 4a survival hopes alive with an 11-run win over Bagshot.

The Boars closed on a meagre 117-9, but top bowling from Alex Crowder-Johnson (3-12) and Joe Howorth (3-17) helped dismiss Bagshot for just 106.

Eversley remain bottom, 27 points from safety.

WOKINGHAM 3s are not yet out of relegation worry following a 73-run defeat to Boyne Hill 2s in 5b.

Cameron Gillespie’s figures of 4-65 reduced Boyne to 2247 and although Ed Fox-Smith hit 41 in reply, the Oaks fell for 151.

WARGRAVE 2s are third-bottom after being edged out by Maidenhead and Bray 2s.

Wargrave batted first, reaching 185-9 and Razwan Hanif’s figures of 5-73 so nearly paid dividends only for Maidenhead to scramble across the winning line with one wicket to spare.

Steve West’s fivewicket haul boosted FINCHAMPSTEAD 4s promotion hopes from 6b.

West’s figures of 5-20 saw Aldershot 3s bowled out for 98 and although Finches lost seven wickets in the reply, they sealed victory with Marcus Bazeley scoring 40.

SONNING 2s are top of the pile and they saw off Royal Ascot 3s by three wickets with Mark Richards hitting 89 along the way.

HURST 2s are up to seventh following a 112-run win over Yateley 3s.

In 7a, Saroj Panda’s figures of 4-9 helped EVERSLEY 3s to victory over Bracknell 2s while WOKINGHAM 4s were beaten by North Maidenhead 3s.

FINCHAMPSTEAD 5s had a day to forget in 8a, bowled out for 39 in defeat to Kew 4s but SONNING 3s picked up a big win over Reading 4s down in no small part to Nick Ray’s unbeaten 99.

WOKINGHAM 5s stay top of 9a despite a 10-wicket thrashing at the hands of EVERSLEY 4s, for whom Jeremy Hammond hit 91 not out.