While Team GB were winning medals in Rio, Ascot were looking to keep their hopes alive in the TVCL.

The 1s entertained table topping Henley 2 and needed a win to keep their hopes alive of winning the sole promotion slot to Division 1.

Asked to bat, Ascot made good progress between the short sharp showers. Jack Kendall hit a boundary laden 47, but the class innings came from Nick Sweetman. He held the innings together to ensure that Ascot kept up with the rate to get 200 – and just fell short of what would have been a deserved century in the pursuit of batting points for 88.

Paddy Edrich and Tom Clarke got Ascot to 204 for 6 off 52 overs.

Henley started tentatively and were 0 for 1, 1 for 2, 33 for 3 and then 66 for 4 thanks to the bowling of Andy Murray, Will Ellison & Mike Brown. Progress was slow but then Michael Williams and Zac Jones came to the crease. They slowly rebuilt the innings – and they didn’t need to take any risks and they didn’t need to win. They saw the innings through until rain eventually won the day with 27 deliveries left and securing 7 points that ensured they are Division 2b Champions.

The 1s played a great game and have followed up their promotion season with a very strong performance in Division 2. Hopefully they will keep the runners-up spot at the end of the season.

The 2s visited Slough 4 hoping to keep their promotion hopes alive. Asked to bat first, runs were difficult at first but some rapid acceleration saw Ascot declare on 207 for 3 off 45 overs. An excellent opening partnership between Deep Mohain 79 and Murray Barter 77 with a quick 30 not out from Jeremy Wing allowed the 2s to give a sporting declaration.

When Slough 4 were 153 for 3 with 30 overs to go then that declaration looked very sporting. Rehan Ahmed 44 and then a 3rd wicket stand between Sher Afgan 33 and Ali Baig 27 looked like allowing Slough to be in touching distance of the 25 points.

But they reckoned without a devastating spell of bowling from Henry Chapman with 5 for 28 supported by Myles Trainor 2 for 12 reduce Slough 4 to 171 all out off 35 overs.

Added to this result was Bagshot 2s comprehensive win over Boyne Hill 2 which means that the 2s are now in 2nd spot by just 3 points.

The anticipated match between the 3s and Wokingham 3s was a victim of the weather and was abandoned by the umpires without a ball being bowled. Wokingham remain in 2nd place, 2 points ahead of the 3s, who are 9 points ahead of Purley-on-Thames 2 and they are only 6 points ahead of Cove 3.

The 4s visited Windsor 4 at Home Park. Unfortunately it was a bad day at the office as they were asked to bat first and slumped to 133 all out with only Ralph Weeks 50 and Mark Wiggett 31 putting on any resistance. Windsor reached the target for the loss of only 2 wickets. The 4s stay in 8th place – 25 points ahead of Eversley 4.

Week 17 matches are:

1s v Beaconsfield (H)

2s v Maidenhead & Bray 2 (A)

3s v Aldershot 3 (A)

4s v Eversley 4 (H)