Reading CC skipper seeking one win for survival
Sportsdesk • Published 17 Aug 2011 16:30
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READING CC's woes deepened at the weekend as they could only manage a losing draw with Home Counties Division Two West basement side Horspath.
The result leaves Reading third from bottom in the table and just 19 points above the relegation place with three games remaining in the season.
Worryingly for David Barr's men, they have not won since the start of July and face a tough test next when they host promotion-chasing Slough on Saturday (11am).
Against Horspath it was Reading's batting that cost them again as they stuttered to 125-8 in pursuit of 217, with Jack (0no) and Luke Beaven (22no) holding out for the draw.
Earlier, the hosts elected to bat first and struggled to deal with Jamie Hoddle (6-53), who removed opener Robbie Eason for four and then dismissed James Phillips (19).
Joe Todd reached a half-century but was then caught by Tom Fray off David Hartley (2-50) as Horspath were reduced to 94-3.
Hoddle dismissed Matt O'Connor (14) soon after to put Reading in charge, only for Tim Hutchinson (43) and Adam Krol (14) to swing the advantage back in Horspath's favour.
The duo eventually fell to Hartley and Hoddle and the latter completed his six-for as the hosts managed 217-9 from 60 overs.
Reading struggled in response, losing Shelvin Gumbs for a duck and both George Greed (19) and skipper Barr (14) cheaply.
Fray (27) provided some resistance along with Sukhi Kang (32) but Reading were in trouble when the duo fell at 110-7.
They managed to hold on for a draw thanks to the Beaven brothers, who batted to the close with the score at 140-8.
Speaking to the Chronicle, Barr said: "It was a disappointing game, and it's fair to say we were outplayed.
"I felt that 215, though it can be a small ground, was still a good score. We didn't get off to a good start with the bat but the good things to come out of it were that I thought Jamie bowled well for the six wickets, and I thought Tom, Sukhi and Luke all batted well to help save the game.
"Obviously we need to get one more win and pick up some decent points from the other two games to avoid relegation."
Reading start their run-in with a home match against Slough on Saturday and then travel to Aston Rowant before finishing at Sonning Lane against Gerrards Cross.
"I expect Slough to be a challenging game," said Barr. "They're a tough side and are competing to win the league, so it's not going to be an easy game at all."
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