Bloomer and Lee knocks help villagers secure promotion

BRILLIANT Ed Bloomer and George Lee stole the show as PEPPARD STOKE ROW 3rds sealed Division 9B promotion with a dramatic two-wicket derby win at WOODCOTE 2nds last Saturday.

The 22-year-old Stoke Row natives, who have played together for more than 10 years since the junior section, top-and-tailed a remarkable run chase which helped Sam Kimber’s men secure third place in the table.

The visitors won the toss and made an early breakthrough as Ben Rumble bowled Mark Hooson and Matt Kimber (2-41), whose decision to resign as skipper after the opening two games of the campaign proved crucial to his side’s eventual success, claiming the next two wickets as Woodcote stood on 87-3.

Archie Clark (67 not out) and Stefan Gordon were in no mood to raise the white flag as the hosts’ 197-4 in 40 overs was a more than competitive total, one which looked even better after Riaan Ackerman and Nick Windsor fell without scoring.

Lee would play the anchor roll in the chase, aided and abetted by a series of cameos throughout the middle order.

Brothers Archie (2-19) and Stanley Clark (2-39) led the way as Peppard Stoke Row were in strife on 140-6, then 178-7 as Billy Bowden bowled Lee (76) before Ben Rumble was run out with the score on 180. Yet it was at this point Bloomer took command, belting a six over the village hall and one into the Red Lion as he ended on a remarkable 39 not out.

The result left Peppard Stoke Row in third place in the table and Woodcote seventh.

GORING 2nds finished in sixth place after going down to an eight-wicket defeat at runners-up WARFIELD.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat but were dismissed for 104 with Himanshu Vij top scoring with 21. In reply, Warfield eased to 106-2 in 11.2 overs.

WARGRAVE 4ths finished in eighth place in Division 9C after picking up a four-wicket win at MAIDENHEAD ROYALS 2nds.

Asked to bowl first, Wargrave struck regularly despite a positive start from the Royals’ top order. Saquib Mohammed (36) and Nasir Mohammad Abdul (48) threatened to build a platform, but Wargrave’s bowlers maintained pressure throughout.

Young seamer Fin Chisholm (2-15) set the tone with an excellent new-ball spell, before Advik Gupta ripped through the middle and lower order with 4-34. Jack Whitehead (2-34) and Max Meader (1-33) also chipped in, helping dismiss the Royals for 194 in 37.5 overs. In reply, Wargrave lost early wickets, slipping to 30-3 as the Royals sensed an opening. However, Imran Ghazi anchored the innings with a match-winning 79 not out. He found support from Hitessh Lingala, who struck a fluent 35 not out, the pair adding an unbroken stand that guided Wargrave to victory.

Division 10B runners-up HENLEY 4ths defeated visitors GERRARDS CROSS 4ths by 105 runs at Nettlebed.

Winning the toss Henley batted first in warm sunshine. Opener Ram Palvannan got the hosts off to a flyer with 51 off just 41 balls including five fours and four sixes. Along with Laurie Tate the pair added 57 for the first wicket. There then followed an innings of 84 from 66 balls by 13-year-old Jethro de Kock. Showing skill and maturity beyond his years de Kock struck the ball to all parts sharing partnerships of 64 runs with Joshua Ellison and another 64 runs with Aakansh Naik.

As wickets fell the scoring rate slowed but Zac Sanders with 28 runs including two sixes helped Henley finish on 242-8 off their 40 overs.

In reply, Gerrards Cross added 50 runs without loss in the first 10 overs. The introduction of off-spinner Joshua Ellison changed the game. A wicket with his first ball removed one of the opening batters and was soon followed by their number three with a good catch at square leg by Aryan Padha.

De Kock got in on the act with two quick wickets as Henley grabbed control of the game. The match shaped Henley’s way after a home catch at long off from Aakansh Naik to remove Beeby having top scored with 61 in good time.

Josh Ellison finished with three wickets. while a couple of tidy overs from Chris Ellison yielded a wicket around the 20-over mark. This allowed Fletcher Bramley and Jackson Bate to make contributions with the ball each with three overs. Fletcher picked up two wickets as the Gerrards Cross reply finished on 137 all out.