Reading dream lives on after late season surge

Ben Steele • Published 26 Aug 2009 10:00 0 Comments

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READING skipper David Barr admits his side will still need a helping hand from their title rivals if their late season surge is to prove successful.

The Sonning Lane outfit continued their remarkable turnaround in the second half of the season with a terrific six-wicket success over Wokingham on Saturday.

That win moved Reading above West Berkshire rivals Falkland into third spot.

However, they still trail top two Aston Rowant and Gerrards Cross - who both came through potentially tricky games last weekend - by 14 and 10 points respectively.

Rowant are now hot favourites to grab the sole promotion spot into Division One, as they finish off their season with games against doomed pair Wokingham and Burnham.

Reading themselves travel to rock bottom Burnham this weekend before hosting Falkland at Sonning Lane on the final day.

But Barr insists that if his team keep their focus and finish with two wins, there may still be a few twists and turns to come.

He said: "The fact the top two won, means we now need them to slip up in their final two games.

"But I have to say that it would not surprise me if Wokingham did something against Rowant this week - particularly with the way they have been batting recently.

"And Gerrards Cross go to Thame Town, who are fighting at the bottom so it will not be easy there either.

"But that's not important - we must concentrate on what we are doing and that means making sure we get a result at Burnham on Saturday.

"If we can do that, then it means things will go to the last game, which is the way you want to finish the season."

Last weekend's win at Wokingham was dominated by a sensational knock from Simon Steel.

The young batsman cracked a magnificent undefeated 156 from just 133 balls to ensure Reading eased past Wokingham's competitive score of 238 all out.

Having been put in, Sunny Grover (75) and Dan Reddyhough (49) put on 87 for the sixth wicket to help Wokingham recover from 128-5 to post 238. Neil Saker was the pick of the Reading attack with 4-36.

Wokingham removed Saker for a duck early on to leave Reading on 0-1 in reply, before the game turned on a pivotal moment.

Pete Browitt was unable to hang on to a catch which would have removed Steel and left Reading 0-2.

And the home side's number three made Wokingham pay for that miss in devastating fashion as he blasted his way to a match-winning century.

He shared a 160-run third wicket partnership with Shelvin Gumbs (50 off 50 balls), blasting 21 fours and a six in his blistering innings. Wokingham looked a dejected side as Reading cruised home on 240-4 in just 40 overs.

Steel was originally born in Barbados and has been something of a bit part player for Reading this season due to other commitments.

But the Southampton University student has turned out for Hampshire 2nds this season, and has proved something of a thorn in Wokingham's side having made a fine 77 in the reverse fixture in June.

And Barr said: "Simon has been at the club for three years, but with his university commitments it has not always been possible to play him this year.

"But he is a very exciting, hard-hitting player, and the partnership with Shelvin, who plays in the same sort of aggressive way, was really superb.

"We really needed it as well, because Wokingham batted well for their score, and we were about par with the ball, so to knock the runs off so well was great to see."

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