Barr stays calm ahead of crunch clash

Ben Steele • Published 18 Aug 2009 19:00 0 Comments

READING skipper David Barr insists his in-form team are still very much on the edge of the Two West promotion race despite their advance up the table.

The Sonning Lane outfit have won four of their last six games to leap up to fourth in the standings.

The latest of those came in the form of a 136-run demolition of Basingstoke & North Hants, which when combined with leaders Aston Rowant's defeat at Thame Town, leaves Reading just 14 points off top spot.

And with fixtures against bottom two Wokingham and Burnham coming up in the next two weeks, it could be that Barr's side are still in with a shout of promotion back to Division One come the clash with Falkland on the final day.

But the skipper insisted: "I always thought if we played to our ability we could be in contention, even though we were 46 points off the top at halfway.

"But we are still on the edge of it because of the three teams above us - you are still relying on them making mistakes.

"Wokingham on Saturday will not be easy either. They have got some decent players and it shows the strength of the league that they find themselves towards the bottom despite being a useful outfit."

Reading go into that crucial top versus bottom clash on the crest of a wave after a convincing display at Basingstoke.

Batting first, Reading compiled a solid total of 231-8 from their 60 overs.

Neil Saker top scored with 68, while Barr (37), Danny Housego (34) and Shelvin Gumbs (23) played the support role.

But in reply, the Basingstoke batting had no answer to the Reading spin twins of David Hartley and Luke Beaven as they were shot out for just 95.

The pair picked up all 10 wickets between them, Hartley finishing with figures of 7-51 - a remarkable fourth time this season he has grabbed a seven wicket haul.

And Beaven demonstrated his fine recent form with a miserly spell of 3-17 from 15 overs.

Barr was thrilled with the efforts of his players - just a week after calling for a team performance from his side.

He said: "It was a solid all round performance from all parts of the team.

"Neil played very well at the top of the order for his 60-odd and then a few of us chipped in with 30s.

"But then David and Luke bowled really well - they are just in terrific form.

"It was a good pitch, shown by the fact that Yorkshire and Hampshire had played a county game there last week.

"But we were on a new strip, and though it did turn, really it was all down to some quality bowling forcing mistakes out of good batsmen."

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