A round up of the news from the latest round of matches in the 2021 Home Counties Premier League.
Division 1
High Wycombe had their lead at the top of Division 1 cut to 19 points after their trip to Oxford eventually fell victim to the weather.
The rain disrupted the fixture at Jordan Hill all day as Wycombe dodged the showers to post 207 for 4 from their 41 overs. Eliot Callis hit 92 from 98 balls while AJ Woodland (39) and Conrad Louth (47 not out) made runs for the leaders.
Image: Eliot Callis
Buckinghamshire captain Tom Hampton marked his 75th appearance for the club by blowing away the top order in Oxford’s reply. Hampton took four for 8 from three overs as the home side closed on 30 for 4 from 10.5 overs when the rain arrived again to bring an enforced early finish.
Henley avoided the rain to win at Datchet by seven wickets.
Tom Nugent’s six for 33 for the visitors helped dismiss Datchet for 97.
Matthew Rowe helped guide Henley home with 63.
Buckingham Town and Aston Rowant played out a draw in a game badly affected by the weather.
Rowant skipper Joshua Smith made an unbeaten 71 and found support from Max Mannering (22) as they closed on 146 for 8 when the rain closed their innings early.
Image: Joshua Smith (Aston Rowant)
In reply, Town had twenty overs less to get their winning target but with no batsman getting double figures they closed on 45 for 8. Leo Bethall picking up five for 18.
Thame Town last pair held on for a draw at Finchampstead.
The visitors closed on 115 for 9 as Callum Russell’s unbeaten 21 and Will Rooney earned their side an extra three points for the draw after Will Sutcliffe’s 41 top scored. Lewis Sharp, selected for his debut in this weekend’s Berkshire NCCA Championship game, collected four for 36.
Earlier, a 152-run fifth wicket stand between Madhawa Fernando (101) and Zac Leonard (78) helped Finchampstead post 266 for 6.
Tring Park versus Banbury was called off with the visitors 148 for 5 from 39 overs.
Home Counties Premier League Division 1 table – matchday 13 (Saturday 31st July 2021)
Division 2
Leaders Slough went down to only their second defeat when Wokingham defeated them by four wickets.
Experienced Berkshire spinner Chris Peploe was the destroyer with seven for 29 as Slough were dismissed for 110.
Slough’s promising Sheridon Gumbs, who has played for Surrey 2nd XI this campaign, top scored with 33.
Andy Rishton’s undefeated 46 took his side to maximum points.
Second placed Oxford Downs and Amersham in third both had their games called off against Great Brickhill and Chesham respectively. Horspath and Wargrave was also abandoned.
Image: Jordan Mcleod
Jordan Mcleod’s match-winning spell helped Harefield move out of the bottom two with an 81-run success over Burnham.
The Buckinghamshire Academy seamer took six for 29 from 12 overs as Burnham were bowled out for 70 in 25 overs. Sulaiman Javed (34) top scoring.
Lee Tyrrell stroked 42 as Harefield totalled 151 all out. Burnham’s Muhammad Haroon picked up seven for 65.
Home Counties Premier League Division 2 table – matchday 13 (Saturday 31st July 2021)
