Chesham CC 5^TH September

On a pulsating final day to the Thames Valley League season Chesham 1^st X1  were obliged to settle for third place in spite of a brilliant victory over Kew, who were leaders at the start of the day. Winning the toss skipper Jason Rance felt obliged to bat first as nothing less than maximum points would give the team any chance of finishing in a promotion place. Against a strong seam attack all the Chesham batsmen struggled with the exception of the ever reliable Andy Goddard who hung on gamely as wickets tumbled before being 8^th out with his score on 67. Dan Babula had stuck around and was last out with the total at 135. When Kew’s innings began they were immediately blitzed by the opening attack of Babula and Ashley Turney  backed up by tigerish fielding and quickly reduced to 16 for 4. Although several batsmen got into the twenties wickets continued to fall regularly as Dan the Man maintained his pace and aggression in a 13 over spell to end with 8 for 35  when he clean bowled the last two batsman with the score on 107. A famous victory but unfortunately for both Chesham and Kew, it was later learned that Cookham Dean, a team that Chesham had beaten twice and who have won fewer games, emerged from the pack to top the league with a last over win against Wokingham. Frustrating.

The 2^nd X1 consolidated there fifth place in Div 2a by beating North Maidenhead 1^st X1 by 7 wickets thanks to steady bowling followed by a good innings of 73 by Ed Turner. North Maidenhead 180. Chesham 181 for 3.

In Div 5a, in spite of losing their match against Amersham 3rds, the 3^rd X1 have earned promotion by finishing in second place. Amersham totalled 202 for 9 and dismissed Chesham for 128, Phil John top scoring with 49.

The 4thX1 are also promoted from Div 8b having finished as runners up in a league which has suffered from several teams dropping out due to lack of players. This disappointingly included Amersham and Old Merchant Taylors.