Berkshire Cricket Foundation

High Wycombe CC played host to an inaugural fixture between Berkshire CCC’s 2nd XI, and a Rep XI from the South East Shires Cricket League.

SESCL is a Sunday competition, covering Berkshire, Bucks and parts of Beds, Herts, Surrey and Middlesex. Running since 1981, the league is currently larger than at any other point in its history, boasting 9 divisions playing a full programme of 40 over matches.

The fixture was designed to boost links between Berkshire and the league to help identify talent and provide opportunities for players on both sides to showcase their skills with both sides comprised almost entirely of teenagers. It furthers the link between the league and Berkshire which saw another exciting announcement in April that working with Get Berkshire Active and the league funding was secured for match balls for the 27 Berkshire teams in the League. Funding which supplied 432 New White Ball or the equivalent of £4,480 worth of support.

In the game itself Berkshire won the toss, and elected to bat, hoping to exploit a short boundary on one side, and post an imposing total. Initially, this looked well on the cards. Openers Khan and Bovill made light of some early assistance for the seamers and put together a fluent opening partnership. The introduction of spin, lead by Berkshire’s own Humza Ishaq (3-39), first slowed the run rate, then began to chip away at the wickets. At 221-6, it looked as if Berkshire might have to settle for something well below par, but a late flurry saw them reach 288, still a little short of the targets that had been aimed for.

In response, Simranjeet Singh was aggressive from the outset. However, Berkshire chipped away at the other end, and at 159-5 in the 34th, appeared to be in control. However, Simranjeet found an able partner in Hamza Arif and put the foot down himself in destructive fashion, moving to a century and then last 150, in an innings containing 17 4s and 6 6s. Berkshire’s bowling couldn’t come up with an answer to this onslaught and an unbroken 131 run stand saw SESCL to victory with 2 and a half overs to spare.

CLICK HERE FOR THE MATCH SCORECARD