Harpsden v 1s

The wait for a new league season finished on Saturday. A new league restructure saw the 1s promoted into Level 3. The opposition, a team that we had never played before, Harpsden in South Oxfordshire.

New captain, Steve Naylor, won the toss and elected to bat first. Openers Dan Mallett and Kamran Hanif started off solidly until Kamran was run out to break the partnership on 47. Rahul Singh joined Dan and they put on 56 before Dan departed for 33.

Then the runs really started to flow as Steve Naylor (81) and Rahul (115) put on 165 for the third wicket. With overs running out they both fell trying to accelerate even further but the middle and late order kept the momentum going as Ascot finished on 317 for 7 off 45 overs.Zac Jones was the pick of the Harpsden bowlers as he took 3 for 68.

Despite the strong total, Ascot knew that this would be a challenge especially with a lightening quick outfield. Kirk Graham fell quickly but Christian Whittaker and Zac Jones got the innings going with a partnership of 62 until Jones fell to the first of four catches by Tamoor Hussain, the first being off the bowling of Nick Wiggett.

Ollie McConkey then joined the crease and with Whittaker kept the runs flowing for a partnership of 50 before Whittaker departed for 85 as Dan took a catch behind for Nick’s second wicket.

The main resistance then came from McConkey, but no one was able to stay with him for that all important partnership and he eventually fell for 76 as Kamran bowled him, leaving Harpsden 227 for 7. With overs running out the end soon came as Harpsden finished on 248 all out in the 43rd over. A good all round performance with Steve taking the bowling plaudits of 3 for 29.

A good start by the 1s, keeping up the momentum from the pre-season matches.

2s v Pinkneys Green

The 2s were also promoted to Level 5, as part of the restructure, and they faced Pinkneys Green at the Racecourse. The opposition won the toss and elected to bat first.

Ascot bowled well but the odd extra per over allowed Pinkneys Green to maintain a steady run rate of 4+ per over. Tim Howson and Tom Clarke removed the openers as they made 62 for 2. But the innings momentum shifted with No.4 batter Vinay Reddy as he smashed 61 off 43 balls with six 4s and four 6s. When he was evetually removed, Pinkneys Green were 141 for 4 and with Jack Stemp (25) and Jake Stokes (31) helped them reach a respectable 220 for 7 off 45 overs.

Unfortunately, the 2s were never at the races, where several batters got starts but only Toby Dodwell-Bennett made the most of conditions with a fluid 53 off 44 balls. In the end some good bowling and fielding, including an excellent backstop fielder who probably saved 25-30 runs for Pinkneys Green and some very passionate appealling piled the pressure on, and Ascot crumbled from 136 for 5 to 139 all out, as Alex Fennell took 4 for 6.

A disappointing start to the season for the 2s and they will look to improve significantly in all areas in the next few matches.

3s v Bracknell United 5

The 3s started the season at Locks Ride against Bracknell United. On winning the toss, Ascot elected to field first. Captain, Omair Sheikh showed his fitness following his early season ending injury from last year by taking two wickets to reduce Bracknell United to 16 for 2. Opener, Ram Kireet Damera steadied the innings with a top score of 33 but the 3s chipped away and took wickets at regular intervals leaving Bracknell United on 112 for 9.

Unfortunately, there was literally a twist in the tale, as the final wicket of Venkata Dandu (27) and Vivek Vashisht (23 not out) out on 63 to help Bracknell United reach a respectable 175 all out with 11 deliveries remaining. Amit Singh was the pick of the 3s attack with 4 for 36.

In reply, Ascot were making good progress until 96 for 2 became 105 for 5 with Hassan Sohail (35) and Waqas Ashraf (33) falling after increasing the run rate. However, Gowtham Yeramanasetti (47 not out) and Yeshas Vijay (22 not out) ensured there was no further wobbles with a fine unbeaten partnership of 72 for the sixth wicket with over 11 overs remaining.

A promising start by the 3s which they will look to build upon.

Sandhurst 2 v 4s

The 4s opener was at Sandhurst’s main ground. New captain, Ishaan Banerjee, won the toss but elected to bat on what proved to be a relatively sticky wicket early on. A couple of players got starts but only one batter, Will Smith made any impression with a well constructed 51 but the 4s fell well short with 136 all out. Adam Birch took 3 for 14 for Sandhurst.

With the wicket playing easier, Sandhurst made light of chasing down the total for the loss of only 3 wickets, with Perry Lewington top scoring with 45 not out.

A disappointing start for the 4s, but calls for the early return of Elliot Mills from Australia have not started yet, according to insider information.

Midweek Bracknell Evening League T20 Update

The T20 league started just over a week ago, as Ascot made the trip to Sandhurst. Being the away team, Ascot batted first and thanks to opener Joe Summers (48), some late hitting by Dan Mallett (28) and Tom Clarke (15 not out) and Nick Wiggett (12 not out), plus 43 in extras, Ascot made 159 for 5 from 20 overs. Nihit Gupta was the pick of the Sandhurst bowling attack with 3 for 32.

In response, Sandhurst were always just behind the run rate with a good opening spell from Will Powell and Larry Hobson. Adam Birch (39) and Matt Halliday (24) gave Sandhurst some hope but with Kai Randell taking 3 for 4, Sandhurst finished on 123 all out.

This week’s match was meant to be at home against Farley Hill but was conceded by the opposition on the day to leave the T20 team unbeaten.