BOBBY SHER has challenged Slough to raise their game after a “missed opportunity” against Horspath on Saturday.

Slough managed only a draw with Horspath at Upton Court Road despite Steven Green taking 4-59 and a half-century from opener Shazad Rana (54), leaving them seventh in Home Counties Division One.

Sher admits that it was a game his team should have won and the captain is looking for improvement ahead of the trip to defending champions Finchampstead this Saturday.

He told the Observer: “Finchampstead have got off to a slow start, a bit like last year, but they had a very good run chase to win at Banbury last weekend.

“They have some very good players so we need to up our game quite a lot, especially with the bat, to get anything.

“Hopefully we can put in an improved performance but it’s difficult because players are fasting for Ramadan even during the week when we can’t train as hard as we would like.

“That has happened for the last few weeks and it’s difficult to go into games under-prepared, but that's no excuse for last week."

Commenting on the draw with Horspath, Sher said: "To be honest it was a game we should have won.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Shazad Rana (blue helmet) made 54 in the draw on Saturday.

"We bowled first on a very good batting wicket and Ikhlaq Nawaz (1-35) and the two spinners bowled amazingly well.

"We kept them down to a score that we should have chased quite comfortably, but we lost wickets at the wrong times.

"There were soft dismissals from the batting line-up and instead the game fizzled out for a draw.

"We seemed to be getting out by playing the wrong shots really, apart from Shazad, who dug in and got a 50."

He added: "It's definitely a missed opportunity and definitely a game we should have turned into a win, but give the boys credit still, it is very difficult with six of the 11 players still fasting.

"For Ali Akbar Raja to bowl 20 overs on the trot is a phenomenal effort in very difficult circumstances."

Check out our new Observer sports Facebook page. Search: Robert Observer Sport and like, follow and share today.