August starts with the third weekend of the league season of the Thames Valley Cricket League season washed out.

The 2.999 refers to the fact that down the road in Bagshot, there was 2 overs of plays as Bagshot reached 9 for 1 against Windsor before the match was abandoned.

It has been a tough cricket season with many clubs relying on revenue from matches and facilities – and to have lost one sixth of a league programme is unprecedented. Hopefully clubs are coping in this difficult economic environment.

On Tuesday, Ascot played Bracknell in the T20 Bracknell Plate Semi-Final. As always the visitors bat first, and Bracknell were in early trouble at 5 for 3 and then 19 for 4. Ramanujam helped Bracknell back on track with 30 but at 91 for 7 the non-striker was struck on the head by a ball hit by the batter and the match was paused while the batter was assessed.

Fortunately, the batter was able to move and in the end was taken to A&E where we were informed that he is going to be ok.

The match was then reduced to 17 overs and Ascot were set an adjusted target of 98.

Ascot were soon in trouble at 9 for 3 thanks to a hat-trick by Anand. Kamran Zaki helped Ascot recover with 26 and then Andy Murray (20 not out) and Amyon Chaffey (14 not out) saw Ascot through to a 5 wicket win.

The final will take place at Ascot on Friday (weather permitting!) where they will play either Farley Hill or Finchampstead