Opening collapse costs Reading CC
Sportsdesk • Published 28 Jul 2011 05:30
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READING lost the opening four batsmen for less than 20 runs and never really recovered as they lost by seven wickets to Thame Town.
Seventeen-year-old bowler Will Rooney did the damage to Reading, dismissing the opening trio of Carum Gaur (1), Tom Fray (3) and David Barr (0) with only 11 runs on the board.
The defeat dented their hopes of achieving promotion from Home Counties Division Two West and with Burnham, Slough and Harefield all losing at the weekend, it opens up the gap even further.
Farnham Royal are now just a point behind following their impressive win over leaders Burnham.
Shelvin Gumbs was the fourth batsman to return to the pavilion on just nine runs with Jamie Hoddle doing one better to add 27 for the fifth wicket alongside Camelius Alexander (20).
Hoddle was then the victim for the first of Jaydeep Bhatti's five wickets.
Wickets continued to tumble for Reading and they paid a heavy price for some poor shot selections at Church Meadow.
However, Thame have been in decent form of late and were close to beating in-form Burnham a couple of weeks ago.
Sukhi Kang (17) and Amardeep Dosanjh (2) were the next pair to fall cheaply, leaving Reading teetering on 75-8.
The situation looked more promising when Luke Beaven and Ian Slatcher entered the crease.
The pair were two away from reaching a half-century partnership but the Indian spinner Bhatti continued to wreak havoc.
Slatcher was caught for 24 while Beaven went on to make Reading's top score of 29 before Bhatti claimed his fifth wicket of the day to finish with figures of 5-43.
Chasing Reading's total of 131, Thame got off to a poor start. Slatcher took the first wicket to leave Thame on 9-1, but James Nelson and Charlie Beardall then led their side to victory by seven wickets.
Reading will have to bounce back quickly though, as they come up against leaders Burnham this Saturday (11.30am).
This article appeared in Reading Chronicle 28 Jul 11
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