Typically as the cricket season starts, the weather changes and the forecast of rain during the weej threatened the league fixtures. Fortunately, while rather overcast and dreary, all the matches were played with only a slight delay for rain.

1s v Reading 2

The 1s licked of their home fixtures with a visit from Reading 2. With the weather being damp most of the wicket, Reading won the toss and didn’t hesitate to field first – although they were 3 players down at the toss, but they were there in time for the call of play.

Dan Mallett and Kamran Hanif got off to a quick start but Dan fell when the score was on 34 and Kamran on 49, as the bowlers started to gain some good swing in the overcast conditions. This brought Rahul Singh and Steve Naylor to the crease who put on 63 for the third wicket, until Rahul feel for 56.

Billy Baker, Adam Smith and Joseph Summer fell with only 28 added to the score, as conditions didn’t make batting easy. Steve and Nick Wiggett then got some momentum into the innings with a partnership of 44 before Steve fell for 56 as well. But the lower order of Nick Wiggett (20), Kai Randell (28) and Tamoor Hussain gave the Reading attack no respite to get Ascot to a very strong 262 all out off 45 overs.

Tariq Khan fell early to Will Powell with the score on 10, but the damage was then done as Reading fell from 33 for 1 to 41 for 5. Several players got starts but with Nisal Perera top scoring with 27, Reading were all out for 125 with just under 12 overs remaining. Tamoor Hussain with 3 for 15 and Kai Randell with 3 for 37 doing the damage with the ball. Another good win for the 1s

Wokingham 4 v 2s

The 2s were on the road at Wokingham, and elected to field first on winning the toss. Wokingham’s top order all got good starts with skipper Toby Barker top scoring with 32. The match was finally balanced at 92 for 4, but Rahul Mohindru (4 for 23) and Raxwan Hanif (3 for 18) backed by some good fielding and a strong opening spell by Tim Howson (3 for 21), saw Wokingham fall to 127 all out.

However, fate was not kind to the 2s – with two of their main batters sustaining injuries, one in the field and one on taking his first run. Partnerships were hard to establish with only Andy Murray and Gowtham Yeramanasetti putiing on 39 for the fifth wicket but despite Andy top scoring with 43, only two other batters scraped to double figures, as Ascot finished short on 107 all out. Duncan Atkins was the pick of the Wokingham attack with 4 for 14. The 2s will look to try and get back to winning ways this week.

Shinfield 3 v 3s

The 3s were on the road at a new ground at High Copse Pavilion, a new community facility in Shinfield. Shinfield won the toss and (you guessed) elected to field first.

However, Abdul Rehman Raja got the 3s off to a great start with 59 putting on 88 with Zach Folly. Despite both openers falling with a run of each other, the rest of the batters chipped in with some useful contributions to get Ascot to a very competitive 175 all out with only 7 deliveries remaining. Subhash Walunj was the standout bowler for Shinfield with 4 for 41.

In response, Shinfield never got going. Opener and keeper, Ritesh Ranpise provided the only resistance with 21. 26 for 3 would be the high point of the innings at they fell to 37 all out with Naeem Mohammad taking 5 for 1, as 5 Shinfield batters failed to trouble the scorers. A good start as the 3s win two on the trot.

4s v Wokingham 6

The 4s welcomed Wokingham 6 to Locks Ride. Learning from last week, skipper Ishaan Banerjee won the toss and elected to bowl first. Wokingham played well with 8 batters reaching double figures, as Abdullah Aamir top scored with 44, with Wokingham reaching 185 for 9 off 40 overs. Arun Chandrasekaran was the best of the Ascot attack with 4 for 43.

In response, Ascot kept with the run rate as Glen Winning (36), Will Smith (38) and Ishaan (31) gave the momentum while Raf Bocchio provided the glue with 43 – just finishing short of a well deserved 50 to celebrate his 50th year! Ascot secured the win by 4 wickets with 5 balls remaining. Abdullah Aamir was the top performer with the ball as well as the bat, with 3 for 25. The 4s will be pleased with the win and rumour has it that Elliot Mills decided to not get a taxi to the airport.

Hopefully, we have seen the last of the rain for a while, and this Saturday looks to be perfect cricket weather.