Slough back on track with Dinton draw

By Rob Stevens • Published 20 Jun 2012 12:45 0 Comments

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SLOUGH CC got their Home Counties Division Two West title challenge back on course with a winning draw at Dinton on Saturday.

The Upton Court Park-based side lost their unbeaten start to the season earlier this month after defeat against Cove, but clearly did not dwell on the loss too long.

In fact, Bobby Sher's men were unfortunate not to come away from the Oxford Road ground with a win as Mike Sutliffe hit 85 to salvage a draw for the former league leaders.

Slough got off to a poor start when Fahid Raja and Kuran Kumar were removed in quick succession by Nheem Amin - playing against his former club.

Omar Jamshad and Shaan Khan, however, cautiously rebuilt the innings with a fourth wicket partnership of 72, feeding off some loose bowling until Shakil Ahmed used all his experience to tie the batsman down along with Alister Gibbons (2-45).

Slough were reduced to 92-5 before Raheel Zaman (70) and skipper Sher (45) took the game to Dinton, hitting nine big sixes between them until Ahmed (4-86) sent the pair back to the pavilion.

The visitors eventually batted out their 60 overs to set Dinton a target of 250-9.

Sher told the Observer: "We lost the toss and were put into bat on what looked a damp used wicket.

"We batted quite strongly but only in patches. We kept losing wickets at the wrong time but still put a decent score on the board."

Dinton's reply got off to a steady start before Ikhlaq Nawaz had Richard Cripps caught behind and a controversial decision against Alan Massey left them reeling on 35-2.

Dinton captain Sutliff, however, continued his fine form and took the game to the Slough spinners alongside Lee Marland putting on a quick century partnership.

But, with the run rate rising after a rain delay, Marland was bowled by Sher for 45 and Dinton struggled to regain their momentum with wickets continuing to fall including Sutliff who was eventually dismissed 85.

Dinton eventually limped to 187-8 and Sher's insists he side were unfortunate not to win adding: "It was a good result but it could've been better, unfortunately we couldn't get past that line.

"We took a couple of early wickets but their two experienced batsman took the game too long ahead for us to push for the win.

"They were always behind the run rate but credit to Mike Sutliffe who batted really well. After we got him out wickets fell regularly.

"It was a good batting and bowling performance and if things went our way we could've got the win out of it."

The draw keeps Slough third in Division Two West 16 points behind leaders Cove with a visit from Shipton-under-Wychwood up next this Saturday (11:30am start).

Sher continued: I don't know anything about them apart from their captain Simon Holt who used to play for Oxford and is a decent batsman.

"It looks like another tough game but they don't know anything about us either.

"Their are some tough teams in this league, everyone is beating everyone and we will have to perform week by week."

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