Berkshire Seniors Weekly Report
It was another busy and competitive week for Berkshire Seniors sides, featuring two excellent victories in the 50+ County Championship, a tough National Division 1 encounter for the 70+ 1st XI, and a heat-related cancellation for the 60+ 2nd XI.
60+ 2nd XI Match Cancelled Due to Heat
Berkshire’s National 60+ Division 2 fixture against Wiltshire County Seniors CC at Westbury & District Cricket Club was cancelled due to extreme heat conditions.
Berkshire 50+ 1st XI Defeat Buckinghamshire
Berkshire 50+ 1st XI produced an excellent all-round performance to defeat Buckinghamshire by three wickets in Group 5 of the ECB 50+ County Championship at Ballinger CC.
After being asked to field first, Berkshire’s bowlers produced a disciplined display to restrict Buckinghamshire to 186 for 9 from their 45 overs.
Simon Foster was the standout performer with the ball, returning excellent figures of 4 for 33 from his nine overs. Foster struck early to remove both Rodney Charles and Javed Naeem before returning later in the innings to dismiss A Vaishnav and R Sundiram in consecutive deliveries, reducing Buckinghamshire from 173 for 7 to 173 for 9.
Mandip Sohi also impressed with figures of 2 for 25 from nine economical overs, including the important wickets of Obaid Ullah-Sarwar and Temoor Alam. Chris Bird chipped in with two wickets of his own, including the key scalp of top scorer N Ahmed, who made an aggressive 74 from 79 balls featuring ten fours and a six.
Buckinghamshire struggled early at 63 for 5 before recovering through Ahmed and the unbeaten Ifraz Khan, who added 44 not out. However, Berkshire maintained excellent control in the field, conceding only four wides across the innings and consistently building pressure through disciplined bowling.
In reply, Berkshire suffered an early setback when both Craig Williams and Jim Ettridge fell with the score on 24. However, Mandip Sohi then produced a match-winning innings that completely shifted momentum back towards Berkshire.
Sohi attacked from the outset, striking a superb 85 from just 74 balls, including nine fours and four sixes at a strike rate of over 114. His aggressive approach put the Buckinghamshire attack under pressure and laid the platform for the successful chase.
Mannu Rawat helped rebuild with a patient 9 before Duncan Johnson added a valuable 29 from 37 deliveries, sharing an important partnership with Sohi that took Berkshire towards the target.
Although Berkshire lost wickets in a brief late collapse from 158 for 3 to 164 for 6, quick runs from Jason Vaughan-Davies (14 from 9 balls) and calm finishing from Richard O’Toole and Daminda Kolugala saw Berkshire safely home at 190 for 7 with more than nine overs remaining.
The victory earned Berkshire 20 points and continues a highly encouraging start to their Group 5 campaign.
Berkshire 50+ 2nd XI Win Thriller Against Bedfordshire
Berkshire 50+ 2nd XI 251 for 6 beat Bedfordshire 50+ 2nd XI 242 for 8 by 9 runs
Despite torrential rainfall nearby, blue skies greeted Berkshire when they arrived at Dunstable Town CC for their second match in Group C of the 50+ Championship.
Skipper Ravi Godbole won the toss and made the obvious decision to bat first. Despite losing opener Andy Mills for 6, Berkshire made a solid if somewhat pedestrian start. Pankaj Garg and Ian Dawkins added 74 for the second wicket before Dawkins (22) was bowled by Nathan Baker.
Debutant Alastair MacEwen made a brisk 20 as the visitors looked to accelerate. The loss of MacEwen at 143 for 3 brought Chris Wright to the middle and he played the perfect support role as Garg pressed on towards his maiden century for the county.
Garg rode his luck as Bedfordshire contrived to drop four chances to dismiss him, but he took full advantage and eventually reached his century from 106 balls. Late runs from Ravi Godbole (39) and Uppy Deshpande (18) helped Berkshire post an imposing 251 for 6 from their 45 overs.
For the second week running, Bedfordshire’s openers posted a century opening partnership, with runs coming far too easily from the Berkshire perspective. Godbole eventually made the breakthrough thanks to a sharp catch at short cover by Uppy Deshpande.
Bedfordshire still appeared to be cruising towards victory until Godbole made the key decision to reintroduce opening bowlers Aron Shallom and Tim Howson. Howson produced an excellent delivery to dismiss Crouch before Shallom removed the dangerous Paul Stevenson for 80.
At 176 for 3 the hosts remained favourites, but disciplined bowling and excellent fielding gradually swung momentum back towards Berkshire. The required rate crept towards nine an over as the pressure mounted.
With Bedfordshire needing 32 from the final four overs and holding seven wickets in hand, the match still looked in the home side’s control. However, superb death bowling from Uppy Deshpande and Saraff Saleem transformed the game as three wickets fell for just three runs.
Needing 12 from the final over, Bedfordshire faced Deshpande, who conceded only a single from the first three balls before taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries to seal a dramatic nine-run victory.
It was a superb team performance from Berkshire and a memorable win that left the hosts wondering how they had allowed the match to slip away.
Berkshire 70+ 1st XI Defeated by Sussex
Berkshire 70+ 1st XI suffered a 61-run defeat against Sussex in National Division 1 at East Grinstead.
After winning the toss and electing to field, Berkshire initially made a strong start as Ian Harvey removed both Colin Mansfield and Paul Oxborrow to leave Sussex 75 for 2. David Brown also struck with the important wicket of Richard Seager.
However, Gareth Williams produced the defining innings of the match for Sussex, retiring on 75 after an excellent knock featuring 14 boundaries. Chris Knight added an unbeaten 32 and Brian Stilwell struck late runs to help Sussex post 249 for 6 from their 45 overs.
Ian Harvey was Berkshire’s standout bowler with impressive figures of 3 for 30 from nine overs, while David Brown and Andy Brown both claimed a wicket apiece.
Berkshire’s reply suffered an early collapse to 5 for 2 before Ian Harvey and David Brown steadied the innings. Harvey made a patient 34 while Brown struck an aggressive 29 from 32 balls including five boundaries.
Don Townsin contributed a determined 36 before Ken Fuller produced an excellent unbeaten 58 from 71 balls, including seven fours, to ensure Berkshire remained competitive throughout the chase.
Despite Fuller’s resistance and late support from Chad Cudjoe, Sussex maintained control with disciplined bowling and Berkshire closed on 188 for 6 from their 45 overs.
Weekly Summary
- Berkshire 50+ 1st XI beat Buckinghamshire by 3 wickets
- Berkshire 50+ 2nd XI beat Bedfordshire by 9 runs
- Berkshire 70+ 1st XI lost to Sussex by 61 runs
- Berkshire 60+ 2nd XI fixture vs Wiltshire cancelled due to extreme heat
Another positive week for Berkshire Seniors cricket, highlighted by two excellent victories and several strong individual performances across the county programme.
Check out all this week’s SCORECARDS HERE