BOBBY SHER has backed Slough to turn their fortunes around after a sixth week without a win sees them fall to bottom of Home Counties Division One.

Slough suffered a 118-run defeat to Henley at Upton Court Park on Saturday meaning they are without a victory since the win over Great & Little Tew back in May.

Sher explained his team are willing to work through their problems and he is confident they can soon show their real abilities.

The Slough captain told the Observer: “It has been a very long time since we’ve been in this position, but the guys really want to work a lot harder and are up for the challenge so hopefully we can turn it around.

“We might need to work harder on our fielding during the week and take our chances. Batting wise, we need more application.

“We’re not far off but we need to know what our gameplan is when we step over the white line.

“I’m still confident in the boys and believe in their abilities, it’s just about going out and proving it.”

Henley set Slough a target of 214 all out from 62.4 overs with Euan Woods (87) and Richard Morris (59) both making half-centuries. Zohaib Ahmed (5-37) claimed a five-wicket haul for the home side.

Slough Observer:

PHOTO: Zohaib Ahmed (batting) claimed a five-wicket haul for Slough on Saturday.

In response, Slough were skittled for just 96 in 28.1 overs with Raheel Zaman (31) the leading scorer and Tahir Afridi (4-40) plus Tom Nugent (4-52) the top wicket takers.

Sher bemoaned: “We were let down by our fielding and our batting. We bowled really well and, had a couple of decisions gone our way and we not dropped a chance, I’m not sure they would have made more than 120.

“We dropped Euan in the late 20s and he went on to score 87 and we thought we had Richard out leg before wicket on 15.

“Zohaib bowled really well, Ikhlaq Nawaz (2-42) again bowled well, plus our two spinners.”

He added: “Batting wise, they bowled in the right areas and it was a tough wicket to bat on. We didn’t apply ourselves long enough to see off the new ball.

"If we were five wickets down after 25 overs it would have been a different story but we were 50 for six or seven.

"We were fairly confident but the ball was moving around a bit and it was a tough wicket to bat on. Everything we gloved our edged went straight to hand.

"Batting wise, we were not up for the challenge on the day."

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