Berkshire Seniors Weekly Round-Up
It was another busy week for Berkshire Seniors, with teams across the 50+, 60+ and 70+ age groups in action in Championship cricket, a play-off fixture and a friendly against touring opposition.
Berkshire 60+ 1st XI defeat Western Australia
Berkshire 60+ 1st XI enjoyed an excellent eight-wicket victory over Western Australia’s Over 50s in a friendly at Hurst Cricket Club.
Having won the toss and elected to field, Berkshire bowled their visitors out for 163 in 43.3 overs. Paul Morgan was the pick of the attack with three wickets, while Peter Henly claimed two. Nick Turner and Phil Ridgeway also took a wicket apiece, with three further dismissals coming through Berkshire’s fielding.
Grant Elliott top-scored for Western Australia with 49, while D Grey made 25 and Kim Rush added 18.
Berkshire’s response was led by Chris Garrod, who retired not out after scoring 50 from 91 balls. Simon Longfield added 29 before Jim Warren and Chris Petts took control of the chase.
Warren finished unbeaten on 26, while Petts produced an explosive finish with an unbeaten 31 from just 19 balls, including six fours. Berkshire reached 166 for two in 32.3 overs to secure a comfortable eight-wicket victory.
Surrey 60+ 1st XI edge past Berkshire
Berkshire 60+ 1st XI suffered a narrow three-wicket defeat against Surrey Senior Cricketers Association at White Waltham.
Berkshire posted an impressive 243 for six from their 45 overs after being asked to bat first. Chris Petts produced an outstanding unbeaten 107 from 113 balls, including 10 fours, while Jim Warren contributed an excellent 56.
Gerry Bacon made 23, Phil Ridgeway 19 and John Bates added a quick 19 from 16 balls as Berkshire set Surrey a challenging target.
Surrey’s reply was led by Chris JS Evans, who scored 79, and Mark Shepherd, who made 51. Berkshire’s bowlers kept the contest competitive, with Phil Ridgeway taking two wickets and Peter Henly also claiming two.
Nick Turner and Jim Warren took one wicket each, but Surrey eventually reached 244 for seven in 44.4 overs to secure victory by three wickets.
Berkshire 50+ 1st XI defeat Sussex
Berkshire 50+ 1st XI recorded an excellent three-wicket victory over Sussex at Horsham.
Sussex won the toss and elected to bat, posting 209 for eight from their 45 overs. Berkshire’s bowling attack kept the scoring under control, with Duncan Johnson taking two wickets for 25 runs, while Simon Foster, Andy Prasad, Chris Bird, Daminda Kolugala and Mandip Sohi each claimed one wicket.
Sussex’s Bradley Smith remained unbeaten on 34, while Timothy Van Noort made 31 and Jason Finch contributed 27.
Berkshire’s chase featured several valuable contributions. Mandip Sohi struck 32 from 24 balls, Mannu Rawat made 33 and Richard O’Toole added 43 from 47 deliveries.
Daminda Kolugala then finished the job with an unbeaten 31 from 29 balls, supported by Duncan Johnson, who remained not out on 13. Berkshire reached 215 for seven in 43.3 overs to secure a three-wicket victory.
Berkshire 70+ 1st XI beaten by Oxfordshire
Berkshire 70+ 1st XI faced a tough afternoon against Oxfordshire Seniors at East & West Hendred, with the hosts securing a 140-run victory.
Oxfordshire posted a formidable 318 for four from their 45 overs. Andy Haynes was the standout performer with 95 from 68 balls, while Angus McPhail remained unbeaten on 92 from 73 deliveries. Adrian Manger also made an excellent 70 from 63 balls.
Phil Ridgeway was Berkshire’s leading bowler with two wickets, while Andy Brown and Ian Harvey claimed one apiece.
In reply, Berkshire reached 178 for seven from their 45 overs. Ian Harvey top-scored with a patient 60 from 76 balls, while Ronnie Brock made 32 and Charles Bury contributed 22.
Nino Trapani remained unbeaten on 15, but Berkshire were unable to match Oxfordshire’s imposing total.
Berkshire 50+ 2nd XI progress to Championship Play-Off quarter-finals
Berkshire 50+ 2nd XI produced an outstanding run chase against Devon at Binfield to book their place in the last eight of the 50+ 2nd XI Championship Play-Offs.
Devon won the toss and elected to bat on a superb track with a lightning-fast outfield. Opener James Blackmore took full advantage of the conditions, scoring an excellent 151 from 116 balls before Mark Dozell dismissed him with a fine low catch off his own bowling in the 42nd over.
Dozell was once again Berkshire’s standout bowler, finishing with three wickets for 35 runs from his nine overs. Despite Devon posting 308 for five, Berkshire were confident that the total was within reach given the excellent batting conditions.
Pankaj Garg and Dan Gear got the reply off to a strong start, putting on 96 for the first wicket. Garg made 53, while Gear contributed 47.
Andy Mills then joined Ian Dawkins at the crease, with Mills taking the Devon attack apart while Dawkins played a patient supporting innings. Mills eventually fell for a magnificent 113 from just 73 deliveries, with the partnership having produced 169 runs in only 20 overs.
Nick Outram joined Dawkins and immediately found the boundary, striking three fours from his first four deliveries. Dawkins then finished the match in style with a straight six to send Berkshire through to the last eight with 31 balls to spare.
Berkshire’s next opponents will be Cheshire in two weeks’ time.
Berkshire 60+ 2nd XI beaten by Surrey
Berkshire 60+ 2nd XI were beaten by Surrey 60+ 2nd XI at Bagshot, but the match will be remembered for the historic debut of Gillian Finucane, who became the first female to represent Berkshire Seniors.
Berkshire fielded a weakened side with several regulars unavailable. Stand-in skipper Chris Symonds won the toss and elected to bat, with Berkshire making a positive start despite losing Pav Midha for 18.
Ian Perry and Gary Clarke then put together a partnership of 43 before Clarke fell for 31. Perry provided the backbone of the innings, reaching a deserved half-century, but a collapse in the middle order saw four wickets fall for just two runs.
Perry’s determined innings eventually came to an end in the 30th over, before Berkshire were bowled out for 144 in the penultimate over.
On a good track with a fast outfield, the total was well below par. Berkshire’s opening bowlers Rahul Mohindru and Chris Symonds each picked up a wicket to reduce Surrey to 28 for two, but Duncan Southcott’s outstanding unbeaten 88 from just 62 balls saw the visitors complete the chase with more than 20 overs to spare.
Thank you to everyone supporting Seniors cricket
Berkshire Seniors would like to extend their thanks to all the clubs and grounds that host county senior cricket fixtures this week and throughout the season, helping provide the facilities and welcoming environments that allow these matches to take place.
A huge thank you also goes to the umpires and scorers who give their time and expertise to support the teams and ensure matches can be played and recorded professionally.
The continued support of grounds teams, clubs, officials, scorers, volunteers and everyone involved behind the scenes is hugely appreciated and plays an important role in the success of Seniors cricket across Berkshire.
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