Title race goes down to the wire

Sportsdesk • Published 2 Sep 2010 18:30 0 Comments

THE Home Counties Division Two West title race is going down to the very last game after Reading and chief rivals Falkland could only draw at Sonning Lane.

A win would have guaranteed top spot and promotion for Reading and delivered a return to Division One.

But despite skittling out Falkland for just 152, they couldn’t finish it off and came up 10 runs short.

In fact, David Barr’s side were relieved to escape with a draw in the end after he and last-man David Hartley had to survive the final few overs with Reading nine wickets down.

Thankfully for the hosts they did manage to finish on a pedestrian 142-9 from 58 overs in tough scoring conditions.

It meant Falkland gained 14 points to Reading’s nine which cut their lead from 15 points to 10 going into Saturday’s deciding games.

“I was disappointed not to win,” said Barr. “It was a good effort with the ball, but we were poor with the bat.

“Credit to Falkland, they bowled well and took some excellent catches, the one James Morris held to dismiss Nathan Stothard was outstanding.

“But we couldn’t put together any meaningful partnerships. Timing the ball wasn’t easy but we needed to adapt better to the conditions.

“All we needed was for one, big stand but sadly we couldn’t manage it.”

Falkland were asked to bat and their top-order fired with Will Challoner (19), Jim Ettridge (25), Morrris (17) and Bruce Martin (45) amongst the runs.

But Reading’s bowlers bit back, with the next five Falkland wickets falling for a mere 12 runs.

Neil Gunter (18) was the only other player to reach double figures, though Reading leaked 15 extras. However, spin duo Luke Beaven (4-36) and veteran David Hartley (4-51) had led the fightback in style, with Ian Slatcher (1-26) and Benny Howell (1-16) claiming the key wickets of Challoner and Morris early on.

The target of 153 looked easily in reach, and opener Howell set them on their way with 37 from 64 balls.

Then Sukhi Kang (9), Shelvin Gumbs (6) and Simon Steele (3) went cheaply to leave the hosts 64-4.

Stothard and Barr looked like they would be the pair to see Reading home, but Australian star Stothard was brilliantly caught by Morris for 26 off Bruce Martin (5-51), ending their partnership on 39 runs.

Suddenly, nerves crept in and from 103-4, Barr’s men slumped to 129-8 as brothers Luke (6) and Jack Beaven (0) plus Slatcher (3) and Andy Davis (6) followed Stothard back to the pavilion.

Davis went with the score 140-9 which was Reading’s cue to shut up shop as Hartley and Barr survived to deny Falkland the victory.

Hartley faced 12 balls without scoring while Barr ended unbeaten on 26 from 101 balls.

“It was a close game, there was nothing between the sides really,” added Reading’s skipper. “I wasn’t happy with our performance, but it was so important not to lose.

“We’re 10 points clear with one game to go. If I had been offered that at the start when we had no wicketkeeper and were struggling for a side, I would have taken it. We’re just happy to be at the top.”

A victory for Reading at Harefield this Saturday would be enough to take them up, regardless of Falkland’s result against Slough at home.

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