20052021

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Thursday, May 20, 2021

Newbury Weekly News

SPORT

Williams knock is all in vain

CRICKET

Falkland slip to 80-run loss at Cove However, the hosts counter-at- tacked again as Ravi Gilbert took the game away from Thatcham to see Binfield over the line. THATCHAM Town fell to a dis- appointing six-wicket defeat away at Binfield in Division 2b of the Thames Valley League in a game reduced to 38 overs per side because of rain. Josh O’Flynn (13) was the first man to go with Thatcham’s score on 24. That brought Jack Young to the crease, who looked to be busy and rotate the strike. He and Rhys Williams settled quickly and soon took the attack to the bowlers. At 143-1 after 26 overs Thatcham were flying, but then rain inter- vened. With the game then reduced, Thatcham looked to put their foot on the accelerator before the 147- run partnership was broken as Williams was run out for a very well-made 90 and Young soon fol- lowed as he was out for 68. Some lusty blows from Ryan Gilmour (26no) and Peter Spriggs (13no) saw Thatcham up to 222-3 and this was increased to 235 after DLS was applied. Binfield’s reply started well as they took on the youthful That- cham attack. Wynand Lamprecht passed 50 as Binfield were cruising and it took the introduction of Bird (3-27) to make the breakthrough as he first removed Lamprecht leg before for 64 and had Matt Humphrey (48) caught in quick succession. Binfield rebuilt quickly before Bird got his third wicket caught by Williams. FALKLAND started their Thames Valley League Division 1 campaign with a 98-run de- feat at Cove. Last week’s game was rained off and the forecast didn’t look much better on Saturday, but the game started with the sides restricted to 42 overs each. Falkland’s opening bowlers started well, preventing Cove from getting away with Jason Williams only going at three an over. Then spinners James Bird and Daminda Kolugala put on the pres- sure with some very tight bowling. Bird had figures of 1-18 off seven overs and Kolugala 0-17 off seven before the rain came again mean- ing the game was reduced to a 26 overs a side. Unfortunately, as Falkland, only picked up two wickets, Cove’s score got bumped up to 178 due to the Duckworth Lewis method. Falkland started poorly, los- ing four early wickets, but Sam Trumper (31) and Billy Rathbone (19) steadied the ship, giving them slim hope. However, due to the long, wet outfield boundaries, Falkland only scored 80 and slipped to defeat. Falkland now look ahead to a home game against Beaconsfield. CRICKET

Ref: 20-0521C Will Davis clips a shot through the leg side

Charlie Anstey looks to find the boundary

Ref: 20-0521K

Singh leads the way for Newbury In-form batsman hits 67 to secure emphatic victory

By LIAM HEADD liam.headd@newburynews.co.uk @liamh_nwn

NEWBURY secured a 63- run victory over Bagshot 2nd at Northcroft in Divi- sion 4a of the Thames Val- ley League. However, they got off to a terrible start with Charlie Anstey adjudged LBW in the first over. That brought the in-form Jagjit Singh (67) to the crease to join Will Davis (11) before Singh fell to off spinner Kar- man Bains. Rohit Sengutpa and Davis put on 26 for the next wicket before Davis was bowled by Chris Fletcher with the score on 103-3. A middle-order collapse started by a mix-up between Sengupta (22) and Surya Sas- try left the latter stranded without scoring and with Matt Smith falling for 0 the score was 109-6. Skipper Kevin Mills joined debutant Shailesh Sawant and a valuable 40 run part- nership took the score to 149- 7 before Sawant was caught

Jagjit Singh in action

Ref: 20-0521M | Pictures by Phil Cannings.

off the bowling on Fletcher for 14. Mills fell next for 24 bowled by Jamie Heathcote and with Russell Bartlett (2) and Mi- chael Seath (0) falling cheap- ly, Newbury finished 163 all out from 40 overs. Bagshot’s innings got off to a bad start when Michael Seath found the outside edge of the dangerous Stuart Der- ry’s bat and he was well tak- en by Matthew Manners. Mills then bowled Geoff Young for 15 and Bagshot found themselves in trouble at 20-2.

The impressive Seath (3-32 from six overs) then took a stunning caught and bowled to get rid of Heathcote and he also had Paul Kelly caught by Sastry to leave Bagshot 40-4. Anstey came on and re- moved Mark Dawson and the impressive Fletcher as Bagshot were reduced to 70-6 before Bartlett got in on the action and removed Derek Budd and Marcus Foley. It left Singh and Sawant to wrap the innings up with Ryan Funnell being brilliant- ly caught by Sastry as Bag- shot were all out for 100.

Jagjit Singh at the crease for Newbury

Ref: 20-0521N

Berks aiming for trophy defence THATCHAM Cricket Club hosts the an- nual Marlborough Cup match between Berkshire and Wiltshire on Sunday (11am) - weather permitting, of course, writes DAVID WRIGHT. Berkshire are looking for their first win of the season, having recently lost by three wickets to Oxfordshire in a friendly played at Challow & Childrey.

Like last year, they will be skippered by Henley and former Falkland batsman Rich- ard Morris, who continues to deputise for brother James while he rests a knee problem. Meanwhile, Berkshire will begin their de- fence of the 50 overs Trophy competition on Sunday, May 30, when they come up against Bedfordshire. Further to this, they will also aim to win the Championship for a record fifth consec- utive time, beginning against Wiltshire at Corsham (July 11-13) in the new Western Di- vision One. Berkshire emulated Devon, who won four successive titles between 1994 and 1997, when they beat Staffordshire by one wicket in a thrilling final at Banbury in September 2019.

Berkshire are the holders, having won by six wickets at Marlborough CC last year after dismissing Wiltshire for only 109 with spinner Luke Beaven taking 5-16 and Andy Rishton 3-24. The batting honours went to Dan Lincoln who smashed 53 to see his side home at 110-4 in the 20th over. Lincoln has made a great start to the sea- son for his new club, Slough, scoring nearly 200 runs in two innings. All-rounder Euan Woods will be hoping to follow up his unbeaten 42 in Henley’s nine-wicket win over Thame last Saturday after the visitors had been skittled out for 126, with Berkshire paceman Harry Jordan taking 3-23.

Richard Morris with the Marlborough Cup