Thames Valley round-up: Stoke Green and Boyne Hill move into promotion contention – Photo 1 of 1

Boyne Hill’s Hamid Riaz

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Stoke Green and Boyne Hill are moving themselves into a position from which they could strike for TVL Division 1 promotion despite mixed results this weekend.

Stoke Green, who saw their Voneus Village Cup match against Ashmanhaugh and Barton Wanderers abandoned because of the weather on Sunday, are third in the table after being held to a draw by Ickenham on Saturday.

Batting first on their own ground, Green declared on 302-7 with captain Gagan Singh smashing an unbeaten 119 runs, and Pavinder Bhachu adding 53. However, Ickenham were resolute in their efforts not to be beaten and with Sam Hinds (60) and Harrison Marner (58) in good form, they saw out their 51 overs to finish on 212-7. Bobby Sher took 3-40 for Green.

Nestling in behind them in fourth place are Boyne Hill after they beat Henley 2nds by seven wickets on Saturday.

Ziya Mohamed’s side needed little encouragement to chase down their visitor’s total of 129 all out in 33.3 overs. With Bilawal Bhatti taking 4-35 and Ziya taking 3-8, they restricted Henley to a low total and knocked off their target for the loss of just three wickets in 23.4 overs.

Hamid Riaz got 33 of the runs while Imran Butt top scored with an unbeaten 67.

Cookham Dean aren’t too far behind them after a disappointing start to the season as they defeated Uxbridge by 27 runs to move up to seventh place.

Having been inserted by their visitors, Dean managed 172 before being bowled out in the 46th over, with James Isbell contributing 79 of their runs and Fahad Jaffrey taking 3-43 for the visitors.

Hosts Dean managed to put the brakes on Uxbridge’s reply as they were chalked out for 145 in 36 overs, Amaan Quadri managed 31 but the day belonged to Dean and their bowler Dileepa Jayalath who took 5-34.

Marlow have moved clear of High Wycombe 2nds at the top of TVL Division 2A after Saturday’s 49 run win at Chesham 2nds.

Phil Lines’ side were able to take full advantage of Wycombe’s loss to Kew, with Lines playing a key role with the bat, scoring 73 as the visitors put on 255-9 in 52 overs. Dickenham also scored well, making 56. while A Clifford took 4-77 for Chesham.

In reply, Chesham attempted to chase, but their efforts were undone by Imran Nawaz, who took 5-62 and Chris Goede (4-50). They were eventually skittled for 206 in the 42nd over.

In the same division, Wraysbury remain in promotion contention after they thrashed Bushy Park by 198 runs.

The third placed side declared on 293-6 after 50 overs, with Andy Prasad top scoring with 72 and in response, W Khan took 4-12 as Bushy were dismantled for a disappointing 95 runs in 30 overs.

In Division 2B, Burnham continue to pressure leaders Reading after beating Slough 2nds by five wickets on Saturday. While Reading were losing against Sonning, Burnham defeated their close rivals.

Having won the toss, the visitors Slough managed only 141 before being bowled out in the 50th over.

Jenson Philip took a match-defining 4-22 before Affiq Latif (32), and Uday Totuka (58) took the fight to Slough as the hosts reached 142-5 in 25 overs.

Bottom of the table Hurst also picked up their first win of the season with a seven-wicket victory over Sulhamstead & Ufton.

Windsor are second in Division 3A after beating Falkland 2nds by one wicket on Saturday. They remain 26 points behind Kidmore End who have won all six of the matches they’ve played this summer.

Falkland won the toss and opted to bat, making only 114-10 in 44.5 overs. Ryan Lewin (4-11) and Charlie Jackson (3-64) were in good form for the visitors, while on a difficult wicket, Windsor also struggled, losing nine wickets before getting to their target in the 33rd over. Karl Ziemkendorf (31no) held the innings together as Mark Baker took 5-48 for Falkland.

In the same division Royal Ascot lost for the fifth time this season as Aldershot defeated them by 10 wickets on Saturday.

Having opted to bat on winning the toss Ascot managed just 90 with the bat in 31 overs as Jamie Grover took 5-28. Alex Farr (39no) and Calum Grover (41no) knocked off the runs with relatively little fuss in 16.4 overs.

In Division 3B Maidenhead & Bray suffered a blow to their promotion hopes as they lost by 58 runs to leaders Hayes.

Having won the toss, hosts Hayes put on 227-9 in 52 overs, with Prashant Kumar top scoring with 77. Faizal Aziz took a brilliant 6-49 for Maidenhead & Bray but his efforts with the ball were bettered by that of Hayes’ Kunal Roy, who finished with figures of 6-23 as Bray were bowled out for 169 in 46.3 overs. Max Thomas top scored for them with 46.

Burnham 2nds and Wooburn Narkovians are having contrasting seasons so far, with second Burnham beating their second bottom hosts by two wickets. Having put Wooburn into bat, they skittled them for 176 in 48 overs before chasing their target with two wickets in hand in 37.3 overs.