BOBBY SHER has warned Slough that they must remain focused in their battle against relegation from Home Counties Division One this season.

Slough have had three matches abandoned this summer, more than any other team in the division, but Sher admits when his side have played they have not been good enough.

Slough secured a winning tie away at Tring Park last weekend but remain in the two relegation positions with four games still to play, starting with a visit to Upton Court Park from Banbury this Saturday (11am).

“There are four games still to go so it’s all for us to do,” captain Sher told the Observer. “We have been unfortunate this year, we’ve had three games rained off which has not been helpful, but we have not played good enough to be in the top-half of the table.

“We can do it [avoid relegation] if we put our minds to it. The win or lose games (50 overs) have started now so hopefully we can get the results we need. We definitely need two wins to get up the table, even maybe a third.

“The guys are working hard so hopefully we can get the results we need.”

Looking ahead to Banbury this Saturday, he said: “Banbury are towards the top of the table and had a resounding win over Burnham last weekend.

“It will be a good game but every match is a challenge for us now. We will have to work hard, work out who their better players are, and hopefully get the result we need.”

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Lloyd Paternott made 49 for Slough in the scores-tied draw on Saturday.

Slough lost the toss at Tring and were invited to bat first, reaching 197-9 in 51 overs. Lloyd Paternott top-scored with 49 runs in 55 balls, while Daniyal Akhtar added 32, Zohaib Ahmed 25 and opener Shazad Rana 24.

Charlie Macdonell was the pick of the home bowlers with his figures of 4-33, backed up by Michael Payne 3-45 and Shelvin Gumbs 2-52.

In response, the home team closed on the same score in 43 overs. Luke Coleman-Ohrynowsky top-scored with 57 runs from 73 balls, while Andrew Dixon made 40 at the top of the order and skipper Gumbs adding 34 at number six.

The wickets were shared amongst the Slough bowlers with Sher (2-30), Ikhlaq Nawaz (2-33) and Steven Green (2-54) taking two wickets apiece - Ahmed claimed 1-41.

Sher commented: “The result was classed as a scores tied draw and to be quite honest it was a pretty fair result really.

“We under-performed with the bat but were not helped having to come on and off for rain, not knowing how many overs we would have, or what would be a good target to set them.

“In the end we did pretty well to get to where we did and come away with 14 points.

“Tring required eight runs in the last over with wickets in hand, so they were strong favourites, but we were able to come away with a draw and unlucky not to win as we dropped three catches.

“In the end it could prove vital and we’ve just got to look at it in reality. We’ve gained three points on Tring and only 10 points separates the three teams above us.”

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