A new season, and a new expanded Thames Valley Cricket League. The league now comprises of 291 teams, 101 clubs and 29 divisions.

Wraysbury 2 v 1s

After just missing out on the promotion spots last season, the regional expansion sees the 1s in a division with a lot of new teams based on the eastern side of the region. Their first outing was away to Wraysbury 2s at The Green.

Ascot won the toss and elected to field first. Wraysbury got off to a great start as the openers Naseer Chohan (53) and Rajkaran Singh (70 off 62) put on 130 for the first wicket. The introduction of the Hanif brothers slowed the run rate down but it was the introduction of Adam Smith that restricted the run rate and the wickets started to fall. A spell of 6 for 32 including a hat-trick ripped the middle out of the Wraysbury batting order and 161 for 1 became 194 for 8, before Shaikh Noman with 23 got Wraysbury up to a respectable 225 all out.

In response Ascot kept getting starts but as soon as they looked comfortable they lost another wicket. An 83 run fifth-wicket partnership between Kamran Hanif (58) and James Docker (34) seemed to settle Ascot but then 164 for 4 became 206 for 9 with Wraysbury looking like they would get over the line. But Tamoor Hussain (26 not out) was well supported by Will Powell (8 not out) and Will scored the winning run to see Ascot take a nail-biting win to start the season.

2s v Holyport

At the Racecourse Ground, we welcomed one of the new teams to league, Holyport. Holyport won the toss and decided to field first. With a race meet on at Ascot, it was unfortunate that the 2s never really got into the race. Only 5 batters got into double figures with Tom Clarke scoring 25, as Ascot subsided to a well below par 112 all out.

In response, Holyport knocked the runs off in less than 22 overs with 6 wickets in hand, as the openers Muhammad Mujahid Raza (38) and Saifullah Khalid (30) knocking off most of the total. A day to forget at the Racecourse.

Eastcote 4 v 3s

The 3s were on the road to Eastcote – against the 4s which are the only team from the club in the Thames Valley Cricket League as the first 3 XIs are in the Middlesex League. Eastcote won the toss and elected to field first.

All of Ascot’s top order got into double figures but it was Waqas Ashraf (84) and Hassan Sohail (47) that saw the 3s reach 268 all out off 40 overs. Abdul Alam was the pick of the bowlers with 3 for 33.

In response, Eastcote initially struggled and looked in deep trouble at 92 for 5. But Sachin Ghogle (82) and some hitting from the late order kept Eastcote in with a chance but they eventually fell to 242 all out. Sadiq Khan and Muhammad Saria both took 3fors for Ascot to get the season off to a strong start.

4s v Knowl Hill

At Locks Ride the 4s welcomed another new team to the league, Knowl Hill. Knowl Hill won the toss, and you guessed correctly, decided to field first.

On a tough wicket, Ascot were able to get a good score thanks to Dirk Benneyworth (45), Uthkarsh Balegara (34) and Dilon Perera (26) to make 162 all out. John Randall tool 3 for 46 for the visitors.

The pitch settled in the second innings and despite some initial tight bowling and fielding from Ascot, they were unable to contain Knowl Hill as Joe Bloomfield anchored the innings opening and finishing on 56 not out, supported by Syed Najibi (36) and Jordy Duffy (32) to a 6 wicket victory.