Slough County Crowned Champions at Berkshire Cricket’s Tape ball Challenge
A brilliant Bank Holiday Monday at Lascelles Park saw Slough County lift the Tape ball Challenge trophy, a standout performance from Reading Street’s Slar Hashmi earn the Player of the Day award, and almost 80 people come together for a celebration of community cricket in Slough.
Berkshire Cricket’s Community Tape ball Challenge on 25 May 2026 was everything we hoped it would be; competitive cricket, brilliant community spirit, and a day that showed exactly what tape ball can do for bringing people together. With around 80 players, supporters and spectators enjoying the action at Lascelles Park, the event was a resounding success from start to finish.
All teams completed their group stage fixtures on the day, with the standard of cricket throughout impressing players and spectators alike. The competitive edge was clear from the opening matches, but so too was the camaraderie and spirit that makes tape ball cricket such a special format.
A Day of Great Cricket
The group stage saw every team give their all across both pitches, with some tight and fiercely contested matches setting up a cracking knockout stage. Batter Sardar Daud was one of the standout performers throughout the day, batting consistently well across all of his Slough County’s matches and catching the eye of everyone watching.
One of the stories of the day was the remarkable run of Reading Street, who reached the final having faced much more experienced opposition throughout the competition. The team was made up of Berkshire Cricket’s Reading Under-15s players who held their own against senior sides and delivered performances well beyond their years. Their journey to the final was one of the highlights of the entire event.
Slough County Take the Title
The final brought together Slough County and Reading Street in what proved to be a fitting conclusion to the day. Slough County were worthy winners, demonstrating the experience and composure to see off the challenge of a Reading Street side who had punched well above their weight throughout the competition.
Congratulations to Slough County on lifting the Tape ball Challenge trophy, and huge credit to Reading Street and their young players for an outstanding tournament run. They will be ones to watch.
Player of the Day: Slar Hashmi
Reading Street’s Slar Hashmi was awarded the Player of the Day prize, a bat signed by the England Mens ODI team, in recognition of his outstanding performances throughout the tournament. Hashmi was a consistent threat with the bat for Reading Street and played a major role in driving his side all the way to the final. A thoroughly deserved recognition.
Thank You to Everyone Who Came – See you at the next one!
Days like this don’t happen without the support of the whole community. Thank you to every team that registered, every player who competed, and every spectator who came out to Lascelles Park and got behind the cricket. The atmosphere throughout the day was exactly what Berkshire Cricket aims to create; inclusive, vibrant, and full of passion for the game.
We would also like to thank Slough Borough Council and the ECB for their support in helping bring the newly refurbished pitches at Lascelles Park to life; the surfaces were in fantastic condition and made for a brilliant day of cricket.
Results at a glance
Champions: Slough County
Runners-up: Reading Street
Player of the Day: Slar Hashmi (Reading Street)
Venue: Lascelles Park, Slough