2021 Home Counties Premier League: Matchday 12 – Round-up (Saturday 24th July)

A round up of the news from the latest round of matches in the 2021 Home Counties Premier League.

Division 1

High Wycombe extended their lead at the top to 31 points after a dramatic tie with Tring Park gave both sides 15 points each.

Wycombe lost their last wicket to a run out to close on 216 equalling Park’s 216 for 7.

After being inserted, Tring Park posted 216 for 7 from their 64 overs. David Burnell (83) and Charlie Macdonell (62) scoring excellent early innings runs before Lawrence Snookes (25 not out) hit three sixes in his 15-ball knock. Conner Haddow returned with three for 89 from 22 overs for the morning’s leaders.

The in-form AJ Woodland (55) again top scored with opening partner Eliot Callis (45) a good support. The introduction of Rory Criddle saw Park come back into the game as his superb spell of six for 40 saw all four results still possible with six balls remaining. As the drama played out it was Tommy Weymes who ran out Cameron Parsons with three balls remaining to end an incredible game.

 

Datchet recorded a five-wicket win chasing down Banbury‘s total at White Post Road.

Joe Barrett, the Datchet skipper, steadied the innings after Ollie Wright’s earlier three wicket burst as he led his team to victory from the top of the order. Barrett finished undefeated on 74 as he shared an unbeaten 83-run partnership with Joseph Thomas (50 not out).

Earlier, a third wicket partnership worth 95 runs between Oxfordshire’s Olly Clarke (72) and the in-form Lloyd Sabin (47) took Banbury to 188 all out after they elected to bat. Steven Naylor’s four for 53 the pick of the visiting side’s bowling.

 

Henley defeated Buckingham Town by seven wickets at the Breakspear ground.

Town had Northants Academy opener Michael Wells stroke 64 while former West Indian international Shane Shillingford made 48 as the visitors posted 213 for 9 from their 64 overs. Henley had Harry Jordan (four for 47) and Euan Woods (three for 75) in the wickets.

The Henley skipper Michael Roberts made 79 not out batting at three after openers Michael Williams (67) and Matthew Rowe (40) had set up their side for maximum points. The win sees Henley cut down the gap to second to just seven points.

 

Oxford and Finchampstead shared a high-scoring draw at Jordan Hill.

A fourth wicket stand of 86 runs between Robert Craze (77) and George Tait (74) saw Oxford declare after 63 overs having scored 252 for 7. Harvey Eltham (34) also scoring runs. Guy Ashby collected four for 77 for Finchampstead.

All of the visitor’s top order got starts but nobody went on to register a score as Finchampstead closed on 220 for 9. Zac Leonard (37) top scoring while Harvey Jupp took four for 38 for Oxford.

 

Aston Rowant were made to work hard as they defeated Thame Town by four wickets.

Rowant recovered from 60 for 6 as a seventh-wicket stand worth 62 runs between Wes Morrick (23 not out) and Leo Bethell (35 not out) took the home side to victory.

Earlier, Thame enjoyed an excellent fourth wicket stand worth 87 runs between skipper Michael Beard (51) and Callum Russell (44) but collapsed from 108 for 3 to 121 all out. Alex Chapman’s four for 36 and Karl Penhale’s three for 21 the destroyers for Rowant.

 

Division 2

Leaders Slough march on at the top of Division 2 as Kamran Younas stroked an unbeaten 121 to lead his side to a seven-wicket success over Horspath.

Opening the batting, Younas played with aplomb as his 89-ball innings, including 13 fours and 3 sixes, was a match-winning one. Dan Lincoln made an undefeated 32.

Earlier in the day, Tom Coleman’s outstanding 133, the highest by a Horspath player in their Home Counties Premier League history, was the mainstay as his side posted 211 for 8. Ali Akbar Raja claiming five for 72 for the hosts.

 

Amersham and Burnham shared a big scoring draw at Shardeloes.

The result sees Amersham level on 191 points with Oxford Downs in second.

Amersham amassed 269 for 9 from 53 overs before declaring as Maduka Liyanapathranage (66), Daniel Colquhoun (42) and Graham Rance (32) scored heavily. Shaan Khan’s four for 78 from 16 overs was the best Burnham bowling figures.

Khan then produced with the bat as he stroked a brilliant 106 not out to fight out a draw for his team. Raminder Singh (48) supported Khan’s outstanding knock as Amersham skipper Sam Helm spearheaded the home side’s attack with five for 67. Burnham closing on 244 for 8.

 

Oxford Downs maintained their promotion push as they beat Harefield by five wickets.

Thomas Mcleod (35) top scored for the second week in succession as Harefield were dismissed for 137 after electing to bat first. Tom Costley’s five for 53 and Oxfordshire’s Matt Warner’s three for 20 were in good form with the ball for Downs.

Opener Will Watts made 46 and Oxfordshire’s Tom Cosford hit 37 to help Downs to maximum points, despite Lee Tyrrell’s three for 54.

 

Chesham grabbed a much-needed win at Wargrave to move out of the relegation places.

Chesham recorded their highest-ever last wicket stand in the Home Counties as Alex Holloway (55 not out) and Yousef Majid (9) put on 58 runs. This beat the previous record from 17th May 2014 against Reading between Matt Rance and Asad Rehman worth 37 runs. Daniyal Akhtar (37) batted well as Chesham posted 223 all out. Wargrave’s stars with the ball were Oliver Winterbottom (three for 48) and John Child (three for 53).

Majid’s left arm spin then put Chesham on top as the very talented youngster took five for 43 from 22.3 overs and had Matt Rance, three for 19 from 17 overs, at the other end helping to dismiss Wargrave for 127 all out.

 

Russell White produced a match-winning display to fire Great Brickhill to a 136-run win over Wokingham at Rotten Row.

White, who has been unavailable for a number of games, gave a model display as he blew Wokingham away for 80 all out with outstanding figures of seven for 31 from 12.4 overs.

Earlier, Brickhill posted 216 for 9 after Mark Nelson (33) gave them a positive start. The experience of skipper Garth Davson (42) built on the platform before a late order flourish from Austin John, who hit a 22-ball 31 not out.