The Colts season has started and matches will be coming thick and fast. The Under 8 Lions started their season well with a victory over Englefield Green.

The Under 11s and Under 12s did not fare so well losing their first matches against Littlewick Green and Valley End respectively.

Being a captain of a senior team has been a hazardous occupation this season. A month before the season started and the 3rd XI captain was rushed into hospital, basically putting him out for most of the season. Then in the first friendly of the season the 1st XI captain broke a finger.

Both of them have had surgery now and are on their way to recovery but the request from the 3rd XI captain who went into hospital on Friday was for 4 wins and the club met his request!

The 1st XI  played their first home league game in the 50/50 format against Sonning. Sonning won the toss and elected to bat. Mike Brown and Will Ellison opened the bowling and Sonning were soon in trouble as Mike and Will both took wickets to reduce Sonning to 23 for 2.

But it was the introduction of spin with Kevin May and Ollie Dunnett that caused all sorts of issues for the middle order. May with 3 for 19 and Dunnett with 2 for 41 bowled out their 10 over spells leaving Sonning on 83 for 7. Ollie Dunnett claimed the scalp of former county player – Aftab Habib. A small recovery saw Sonning get to 113 for 7 but then Andy Murray 1 for 8 and Nick Wiggett 2 for 15 mopped up the tail as Sonning were all out for 128 in the 43rd over.

The run chase went rather smoothly in the end. Jack Kendall 35 and James Gamble 19 put on 61 for the opening stand before both went to see the score at 64 for 2. James Wensley made a rapid 33 to take the score to 105 for 3 leaving Ollie Dunnett 27 not out and George Payne 6 not out to see the 1s home and earn their first win by 7 wickets and 21 overs.

Next week the 1s travel to 9th placed Yateley.

The 2s travelled to Eversley 2s looking for their first win. Ascot won the toss and elected to field. Mike Wyatt and Tim Howson took the new ball and never allowed Eversley 2s to build an innings taking wickets regularly Wyatt 3 for 22 and Howson 3 for 29 restricted Eversley to 51 for 6.

Jason Carr then joined in the action and finished off the innings with 3 for 26 as Eversley were bowled out for 117 in 41 overs.

The run chase was a little nervy with Arup Vidyerthy 11, Murray Barter 29, Jeremy Wing 26, Dan Corsini 0 and Ben Clark 5 all falling but Nikesh Patel’s 35 not out saw Ascot home by 5 wickets and with 28 overs left.

The 2s are at home next Saturday against 8th placed Teddington Town.

The 3s were at home to Hurst 2s. Hurst won the toss and elected to field. The 3s innings were built around an excellent 53 from Neal Feely and 26 from Gary Clarke and 23 from skipper Dirk Benneyworth to get them to a respectable 154 all out in 43.3 overs.

Hurst’s innings was built around a great 62 by J Wrigley. Wickets fell regularly at the other end as Tom Dummigan 3 for 27 and Calum Jackson 3 for 65 kept Ascot in the hunt. But it was Jacob Parry with 2 for 24 who took the important wicket of Wrigley which wrestled the initiative back to Ascot and Hurst fell 18 runs short as they were all out for 136 in 32 overs.

The 3s are at home again next week as they entertain bottom placed Yateley 3s.

The 4s made the trip to Bagshot 3s and were asked to bat first. The innings was built around two great contributions, from opener and everyone’s favourite Italian, Nino Trapani with 71 and then 53 from the late middle order by  Martin Kay which allowed the 4s to finish on 213 for 9 in 47 overs.

Mark Sutherland 3 for 26 and Andrew Passfield 3 for 61 were the pick of the Bagshot attack.

Ascot opened the bowling with spin from Naeem and Oscar Pincus. Despite Bagshot being above the run rate wickets fell regularly as Naeem took 2 for 29 and Oscar Pincus 2 for 45.

Richard Rowlett hit a quick fire 44 but Omair Sheikh took the all important wicket as he took an impressive 4 for 20 and also took the last wicket of the innings and a good last wicket stand between Andrew Passfield and Mark Sutherland as Bagshot finished 145 all out off 31.2 overs.

Next week the 4s travel to fifth placed Hayes 4.

So an impressive Week 2 from all four teams and hopefully create momentum for the season.