Only Finchampstead Remain Undefeated in the Home Counties Premier League
CREDIT: Home Counties Premier League & ETDC Digital Media
Premier Division 1
Harefield, High Wycombe, and Banbury, previously undefeated and leading the league, experienced setbacks that diminished their early league advantage.
Henley secured their inaugural victory against Banbury, with Johnny Connell’s exceptional batting performance. Connell scored 13 fours and 4 sixes, achieving his first century for the club this year. His right-handed batting prowess has been evident in previous NCCA trophy victories against Cornwall and Devon earlier this year where he secured two centuries. Connell’s National County form was successfully transferred to the club circuit, as his team amassed 279-6 in the first innings.
George Tait and Kieron Coyne attempted to counter Connell’s dominance, scoring 43 and 87 respectively. However, the next highest scores were below 20, and with limited support from teammates, they struggled against Adam Searle, who picked up 3-46.
Oxford Downs also experienced a decline in their unbeaten run last week, but picked up the victory this weekend.
Despite some impressive bowling by captain Stephen Croft (4-32) and Dan Ogden (3-49), George Sandbach delivered early damage in the innings. His 68 from 92 balls was remarkably patient, yet he managed to hold up and conclude the innings. A quick 30 from Delport towards the end of the innings contributed to Oxford Downs’ total of 205.
Harefield’s opening batter, Gareth Severin, who has already totalled 232 runs in just three innings at an average of 116, failed for the first time this season. However, he still topped the scoreboard with 38. Ogden’s 37 helped reduce Oxford Downs’ total, but a lack of application with the bat found Harefield stranded on 165 in the 40th over.
Aston Rowant secured their first victory of the season, overcoming a slow start and defeats to both Wycombe and Oxford Downs.
It was Luke Hayes’ day with his first century of the season. He played patiently, having faced 131 deliveries with nine fours and seven sixes. The young player had struggled in the opening stages of the league, with only 12 runs to his name across two fixtures. However, that early-season rust was swiftly dispelled as he struck boundary after boundary for a match-winning innings.
With 242 runs on the board, Stoke Green had a diminished chance of chasing it down given their recent batting performance. While Shivam Mishra’s half-century and new signing Aashir Zaib (70) provided some promise, the runs dwindled, and they were bowled out for 209, significantly damaged by Darren Rolfe’s 3-24 spell.
High Wycombe experienced their first unexpected setback of the season when Finchampstead delivered a remarkable performance, with Ben Salter’s late-innings barrage.
Chris Britz at Finchampstead (Image: Luke Stafford)
The London Road team appeared in a comfortable position after their impressive batting display, which included three half-centuries from Ward (62), Hemp (58), and Lincoln (84). Having raised the total to 290, it seemed to be an above-par score, despite some fluctuations in their batting performance during the middle overs. However, Salter once again proved instrumental in limiting the total to a lower-than-desired level, with 4 wickets to his name.
The aggressive Finchampstead batters seized upon Wycombe’s below-par fielding and bowling performance. Isbell effectively controlled the innings for the majority of the overs, scoring 75 from 107, which allowed Greg Smith to establish a partnership and adopt a more aggressive batting style from the opposing end.
Ben Salter’s 66 from 39 balls and Crerar’s 39 from 26 delivered the necessary damage. Despite the need for nine runs an over for the final 10 overs, the two batters maintained their composure and crossed the line in the last over with a triumphant celebration.
Great Brickhill achieved their inaugural victory after defeating Wargrave, who had previously emerged victorious against Henley the previous week.
To accumulate a score of 280 was a commendable achievement, primarily driven by the contributions of Toor (53), Critchley (54), and skipper Cater (53). Despite their deliberate and measured approach, all three batsmen collectively contributed to the team’s ability to secure a defensible total.
Toby Greatwood successfully captured three wickets to mitigate the flow of runs and restrict Brickhill’s scoring potential.
Farina (48) and Greatwood (37) were the sole contributors to Brickhill’s batting tally, as Euan Woods was unfortunately unavailable.
Greatwood, who assumed the captaincy, has demonstrated remarkable batting prowess, averaging nearly 40 runs per innings. Notably, he has already achieved a five-wicket haul, securing 47% of his team’s wickets.
However, Jude Rathnayake emerged as the formidable player for Wargrave. His five wickets in 10 overs only conceeded 35 runs, as he effectively dismissed Farina before he could gain much more momentum. With Rathnayake’s talent within the Brickhill lineup, Wargrave found themselves 115 runs short, ultimately succumbing.
Check out all the 2025 Premier League Centurions HERE
Wokingham & Oxford Take Control in Division 2 Title Race
Shaan Khan playing for Wokingham
Wokingham & Oxford Maintained Their 100% Start To Their 2025 Home Counties Premier League, Division 2 season.
In the third round of games played on Saturday 24th May, the two sides finished the day as the only sides with the maximum of 60 points.
Wokingham enjoyed an eight-wicket success as they defeated a Slough team, who were also unbeaten at the start of play.
After inserting their visitors, Shaan Khan’s seam put his side into a good position early on as he removed Ishaq, Mushtaq and Avas with just eighteen runs on the board. When Andy Rishton ran out Slough’s overseas dangerman Vishnu Solanki, Slough were reeling at 29 for 4 and forced to rebuild.
Sahaan Sahaan (29) and Mujtaba Ghayyas (44) added much-needed middle order runs before Sulaiman Javed helped Wokingham bounce back as he claimed three victims. Slough were bowled out for 162 in 42.4 overs. Khan closed on three for 32, Javed claimed three for 44, both from excellent spells.
Wokingham’s batting unit will be pleased how they went about their chase as Michael Cowdell and Conrad Martucci opened positively.
After an steady opening stand of 57, Martucci was removed for 38 but Cowdell continued to play a solid anchor role at the top of the order. He bought up his half century from 112 balls. When he departed for 55, the score was on 123. It was the experienced Dan Housego guided Wokingham home as the former Middlesex batter, and Wokingham’s Head Coach, led by example with an unbeaten 57. His half century coming up from 76 balls in 80 minutes.
Julian Laird was again a key all-round performer as, along with Jack Hobbs, the pair helped Oxford win their local derby at Horspath by 97 runs.
The Sussex Academy talent scored 46 from an opening berth after his side lost the toss and were invited to bat. He found Hobbs a solid contributor as the batter made 86 from 95 balls. His innings included ten boundaries, half of which being sixes. Seamer Sravan Konidena returning with four for 41 in ten overs as the pick of the ‘path bowling.
Laird then bowled a miserly spell which strangled the home side’s batting as he closed with outstanding figures of three for 14 from ten overs, including the key wicket of the in-form Vivek Narayan. Horspath never recovered from losing early wickets as they struggled before being dismissed for 121 in 41.2 overs.
Gerrards Cross are up to third position after they successfully chased down Bicester & North Oxford‘s total to win by four wickets at Akemann Street.
After being inserted, only Marcus Jeacock (40) made any runs of note from Bicester & North Oxford’s top six as they looked in trouble at 93 for 6. Daniel Savin and Ben Clark fought back for the hosts as they shared an 83-run stand for the seventh wicket. Savin was bowled for a fine half century and Clark fell for 43 as three wickets were taken for just one run. Bicester & North Oxford posting 198 all out with just two balls remaining of their 50 overs.
Wasim Ahmed bowled a tidy ten-over spell for the visitors as he picked three for 27, while his captain Patrick Smith (3-55) also claimed a trio of victims.
Henry Walsh and Chris Marrow gave Gerrards Cross a perfect platform as they shared an opening stand of 113. Walsh was the first to depart for 62 from 74 balls in 70 minutes. The visitors proceeded to lose five wickets for just 18 runs as Afghan took three for 27. Marrow (48) was the fifth of the victims to fall but Teddy Fleming got his team home with 33 not out.
Datchet recorded their first win of the season with an emphatic nine-wicket victory over Chesham at The Meadow.
Matt Rance was the stand-alone performer for the home team as he made 32 from the number one berth. No other player reached double figures, but extras registered 31, as Chesham were bowled all out for 100 in just 25 overs. It was Nick Kimber and Girish Radhakrishnan who ripped through the batting order as both players collected four wickets apiece. Kimber took four for just 11, while Radhakrishnan returned with four for 33.
Opener Rahim Akhtar scored a run-a-ball undefeated 37 runs to see Datchet to a maximum as Jack Laraman (27 not out) and Murad Khan (25) contributed to the win.
Thame Town made it back-to-back wins as they took all the points in a six-wicket success over newly promoted Falkland at Church Meadow.
It was the home side who opted to bowl first in Oxfordshire and it proved to be a good decision. Opener Brandon Gilmour (30) top scored for Falkland as the visitors found runs difficult to come by. Thame’s bowling attack shared the wickets, with the spin of their skipper, Hassam Mushtaq (3-21) the pick, as Falkland were dismissed for 140.
Lloyd Paternott injected pace into the Thame chase as he made a quick-fire 81 from just 71 balls in 79 minutes. His innings included fifteen boundaries (13 fours and 2 sixes). New Zealander Elliot Seddon took three wickets but the game was effectively already won by the hosts.
