STOKE Green CC skipper Sukh Dhillon is keeping his feet firmly on the ground despite watching his side make a perfect start to the new season.

The village club has rocketed through the divisions in recent years with a hat-trick of promotions in the Thames Valley Cricket League.

And they have capitalised on a break in the weather to storm to the top of Division 2b with three consecutive maximum-point victories.

Stoke were too good for Thatcham Town in a rain affected match on Saturday, where new overseas star Shameera Weerasinge made an unbeaten 50, and spinners Sajid Aziz and Zulfiqar Butt both claimed five-wicket hauls.

That 40-run success saw them go 28 points clear of the chasing pack, though Dhillon played down talk of a fourth promotion - at least until the half-way stage.

Speaking to the Observer, he said: “We were very lucky with the weather but we’ve not had that for the last couple of seasons. It’s swings and roundabouts and we’re taking advantage of it.

“The core of the side has not changed a lot since Division Five. Players have bonded very well and have a good laugh to keep the spirits up.

“We are taking it one game at a time because it’s a very long season. We will reasses half-way through the year, but the aim is to consolidate and enjoy our cricket. We’ve got a very good side but it’s a case of being patient.” Dhillon admits there were some nervy moments at Thatcham but praised the efforts of his side in the field as they took every opportunity the hosts presented.

“When we came in because of rain it started to dawn on us that it may be the end of our innings,” he explained. “We were a little bit nervous but had to back ourselves with two spinners.

“We knew that batting second with our spinners would be very difficult. We set the right sort of aggressive field which made them panic, and we got through our overs quickly.

“Our two spinners strangled Thatcham, who couldn’t get on top because they bowled well as a partnership. They stuck to a tight line and were very good to watch. We went out with a positve attitude and to be fair, they backed it up.” Stoke Green travel to bottom club Sonning tomorrow (Saturday, 1pm), who are now skippered by ex-Farnham Royal leader Ollie Clayson.

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