Maiden Victory for Ones

In a tense match, decided in the final over, Wargrave secured their first win of the season. In a game that could have gone either way the Ones achieved victory by the tiny margin of 6 runs.

A well paced opening partnership of 92 in 17 overs between Imran (86) and Luke (49) gave no idea of the dramas to come. The score had reached 154 for 4 when Mandip joined Imran. The skipper in uncharacteristic fashion took 15 balls to achieve double figures but emerged from his shell to score 54 out of a stand of 68. All the while Imran continued in his now familiar classic and well paced fashion to top score, falling when the score was 222.

After Mandip was caught in the deep 20 runs later the Wargrave batting collapsed ignominiously. From 242 for 5 only 2 runs were added, and with 3 wickets falling in the 45th over, the final score was lower than anticipated at 244. The pick of the bowlers was U Asif with 5-49.

This proved to be enough, but only just.

Slough were in trouble at 67 for 5, all wickets falling in 26 overs to the economic bowling of spin twins, Euan (2-26) and Huw (3-54). By the time the new ball was taken, Rishi Shareth, who went on to make an excellent 69, was set and had recently been joined by U Asif. The latter took a liking to Mandip and Alex Woods, in his first game of the season, and at one point took 8 fours in 9 balls, racing to 61 in only 37 deliveries.

Euan returned and with his worst ball of the match took a smart return catch to send Sharath back to the pavilion. N Syed joined Asif and the pair took the score to what seemed to be a winning position of 236 for 7 before danger man Asif was well stumped by Ricky off Euan. Ricky spent most of the match in some discomfort having been hit in the face by a ball that reared up from Huw. As he took 2 catches and 2 stumpings his injury did not seem to have affected his 'keeping.

The odds were still in Slough's favour but after Asif's fall their tail collapsed with Mandip trapping captain Fasil Noor LBW,and Euan picking up the last wicket caught behind to finish with 5-50 in 18.2 overs. The relief and excitement of the Wargrave players was obvious as they mobbed the successful bowler.

The next challenge is against high flying Boyne Hill on Saturday when Wargrave will hope to continue their winning ways