In the sun-drenched expanse of the Piggott School, a merciless century from Garth Hinkel propelled Maidenhead & Bray 6th XI to a commanding 271, laying the foundation for a 82-run victory over Wargrave 5th XI in a spirited Division 10B Thames Valley League clash.

This was no dour affair of attritional cricket; rather, it unfolded as a festival of strokeplay, counterpunching, and momentum swings, all framed within a match that saw 460 runs scored and 20 wickets fall. But towering above all was Hinkel, whose brutal 123 from just 64 balls – laced with 13 fours and 10 sixes – decisively turned the contest in the visitors’ favour.

Having won the toss and electing to bat, Maidenhead & Bray’s start was stuttering. Mike Brown (17) and Anuj Jain (13) compiled steady but unspectacular contributions, while Benjamin Hinkel and Josh Greenough fell cheaply, leaving the score at a modest 65 for 3. Enter Garth Hinkel.

From his first few confident pushes, it was clear Hinkel had judged the conditions better than most. The pitch, offering little movement for the seamers, became his canvas. Even as wickets fell around him – including a pair for Guy Fergusson and Rowan Searle apiece – Hinkel was unrelenting. He moved swiftly through the gears, unleashing a blizzard of boundaries and towering sixes, frequently launching the ball into neighbouring gardens.

By the time he fell for 123, caught off Rowan Searle’s bowling attempting another expansive blow, he had lifted his side from a precarious 78 for 5 to 218 for 7 – a transformation that defined the innings. A late cameo from Armaan Jain (26) helped push the total to an imposing 271 from the allotted 40 overs.

Wargrave’s response was valiant, if ultimately underpowered. Dave Jeary (12) and Guy Fergusson (31) gave the innings a steady platform before Kit Jeary played what briefly looked to be a match-turning innings. Unfurling fluent drives and wristy flicks, Jeary’s 50 from 54 balls (a maiden half century for the young Jeary) kept the chase alive, with the hosts reaching 160 for 3 and appearing to threaten the improbable.

However, once Jeary fell – the fourth wicket to the wily Jonny Fenton (4 for 35) – Wargrave’s middle and lower order collapsed in a heap. From 160 for 3, they lost six wickets for just 17 runs in a spell of relentless pressure from Fenton and Armaan Jain (3 for 45), who exploited loose strokes and growing scoreboard pressure.

Only Tim Pryke (24* from 53 balls) offered late resistance, but with wickets tumbling around him and overs running out, he could do little to prevent Wargrave from being bowled out for 189 in the 40th over.

Extras played a curiously pivotal role across both innings – Wargrave conceding 26 and Maidenhead & Bray 44 – a testament to both attacking intent and lapses in bowling discipline. Yet the defining difference was Hinkel’s masterclass, which rendered even the best of Wargrave’s efforts second-best on the day.

While Wargrave will rue the missed opportunity to seize control during the visitors’ mid-innings wobble, they leave with credit for their batting intent and a full haul of bowling points. Maidenhead & Bray, meanwhile, return home with the full 22 points and a performance that, thanks to Hinkel’s fireworks, will long be remembered at this level.