So we’re getting to the business end of the season, and with the new league restructure in 2018 – then the main concern is to avoid relegation which for the 2s and 3s means a top 6 finish and the 4s a top 5 finish.

The 1s were in with an outside shout of top promotion spot but need to win their remaining games to stand any chance. This week saw the return of 50 overs Win / Lose cricket and Thatcham Town 1s were the visitors.

Ascot won the toss and batted but didn’t make the most of a good wicket. With the exception of James Gamble 49 and Nick Sweetman 23, none of the other batsmen could get above 13 and were bowled out for 150 in 47 overs. Chris Bird was the main bowler with 4 for 24.

Thatcham in the end coasted to victory on the back of Josh O’Flynn’s superb 82 to win by 5 wickets. Ascot are now 56 points behind top spot and 49 points ahead of the relegation zone so they will be looking to make sure of safety this Saturday as they travel to High Wycombe 2s.

The 2s were away to Bagshot 2s who were just a place above them. Selection had been difficult this week so it was a rather inexperienced bowling attack. The 2s won the toss and elected to bat first.

At 90 for 6, Bagshot were on top despite 43 from Dan Corsini. However, Deep Mohain 34 and Ralph Weeks 22 managed to help Ascot reach a respectable 161 all out off 45.1 overs.

Bagshot started off brightly with Geoff Young 42 and Taz Ishak 29 getting them off to a good start. But the bowlers came through as Tom Dummigan 5 for 48, Myles Trainor 3 for 24 and Naeem Mohammed 2 for 39 helped squeeze the flow of runs and see Ascot home by 30 runs.

The 2s are now in the 6th position spot but 51 points covering 4th – 9th position then every point counts. The 2s are at home to Reading 2s this week.

The 3s were at home to Farnham Common 2s and needed a win to stay in with a chance of staying in the division. Farnham won the toss and elected to bat first.

At 114 for 2, Farnham looked to be the favourites. But a great spell by Saria Muhammad with 7 for 65 and aided by tight bowling from Ben Clark with 2 for 32 saw Farnham Common 172 all out off of 46.1 overs. Moises Niese top scored with 52.

Those extra overs became important in the end. Despite John Dunnet’s 27, at 78 for 5, Farnham Common looked to be in the box seat. But a 6th wicket partnership of 54 by Martin Kay 21 and Dirk Benneyworth 54 and a 7th wicket partnership of 37 by Benneyworth and Dan Bailey 12 not out helped Ascot to win by 3 wickets to keep their hopes alive.

The 3s are away to top of the table Sonning 2s.

The 4s were away to Windsor 4s but on turning up at Home Park found that there was no opposition but had not been told that it was conceded. As conceded matches now carry no points in the Average Points table then the 4s remain in 3rd place.

The 4s are at home to Datchet 4s this week.