| Match Reports |
| Sat 31 August - Honours All Round for all 3 XIs in Berkshire |
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The 1st XI came runners up in the Premier Division after defeating West Ilsley at home by 5 wickets. West Ilsley were dismissed for 183 with Stuart Lipo taking 4-65, Rob Barrett 2-22 and Simon Massey 3-41. Simon Massey ended up with 51 League wickets in the season, the highest ever for any Yateley bowler in the Berks League. Yateley knocked off the runs for the loss of just 3 wickets. Jonathan Ablett with 80 and young Tom Lawrence with 53 'did the business'. Before the game Simon Massey needed just 63 runs to achieve a League record of 500 runs and 50 wickets in a season but unselfishly refushed to bat himself up the order. The 2nd XI beat West Ilsley away by 5 wickets to secure runners up spot in Division 3 and duly gain the promotion that looked very unlikely earlier in the season. In-form Simon Mant again took 7 wickets (for 50) and the opposition were dismissed for 123. Martin Owton also bowled well for 2-41. Peter Platt scored 50 not out and Saj 30 for Yateley. Having secured the Championship last week, the 3rd XI easily defeated 3rd placed Theale & Tilehurst in the last League fixture of the season. Yateley scored 174 for 9 thanks to Thrilog (46) and Bernie Grossmith (44). Theale were dismissed for 99 with wickets from Wes Day (3), Dave Goddard (3), John Branson (3) and young Ben Brady (1). The 4th XI visited Royal Ascot and were narrowly defeated by 14 runs. Ascot batted first and were all out for 181. Gethyn Howells took 3-27, James Platt 2-29 and Jay 2-26. In Yateley's total of 167 Dave Howells scored 21, Dinesh 21 and Jay 21.
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| Sat 26 August - All the Presidents Men Couldn't stop the 1st XI |
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For the first time in the history of this annual August Bank Holiday
Monday fixture Yateley 1st XI beat the Presidents XI. The Presidents XI
batted first and got off to a good start with Max Shoveller scoring an
elegant 24 in quick time, and Steve Coxhead scoring a sedate 28 in even
time. Neil Coxhead looked promising but failed to make a major
contribution with just 13. Dave Goddard revived a lagging middle order
with an uncultured but very welcome 31 before Ray de Winter
reminded us all of what he used to do regularly with a fine 37.
President Max Kaye joined Ray towards the end of the innings to give us
all a brief glimpse of their successful partnership of old. All
Yateley's bowlers made a contribution: Lipo 2-44, Pete Denston 2-28,
Chris Miller 1-14, Nick Eva 2-17, Fishleigh 1-34 and Leary 1-1. The
Presidents XI finished on 176-8. This total was never going to trouble this 1st XI on a good track
with such a strong batting line-up. The 1st XI comfortably won by 9
wickets with Michael Leary and Simon Fishleigh both getting unbeaten
scores in the 80s. Opener Tom Lawrence was the unlucky man out (to the
guile of Ray de Winter).
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| Sat 24 August - Maximum Points in Berkshire League! |
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The 1st XI beat Sandhurst with a maximum of 30 points to guarantee runners-up spot in the Premier Division. Full match details to follow. The 2nd XI also gained maximum points in beating
Emmbrook at home by 100 runs. Last week's hero with the ball, Simon Mant,
was this week's hero with the bat as he and DJ rescued the Yateley
innings. Batting first Yateley were in trouble at 76 for 6 until David
Jones and Simon Mant put together an incredible partnership of 150 runs
to enable Yateley to declare after 40 overs on 226 for 6. Simon scored
80 not out and DJ 57 not out. The 3rd XI were duly crowned Champions after securing a draw against second-placed Stoke Row. Stoke Row scored a formidable 232 for 7 off their 40 overs, which Yateley were chasing hard until the heavens opened at 117 for 4. Ian Taylor and Thirlog made good contributions with the bat early on in the innings, and Bernie Grossmith and Rawat were going strong when the rain came. Congratulations to skipper Dave Goddard for his first title. The 4th XI entertained Thorpe at The Green. According to spokesman David Ashfield: "Yateley snatched defeat from the jaws of victory" in this, nevertheless, enjoyable game. Thorpe were dismissed for 142 with Mike Viner taking 3 wickets, George Wakely 2, Gethyn Howells 2 and James Shillingford 1. Yateley made a good start with James Chandler contributing a steady 19. Danesh scored a useful 53 to put Yateley within sight of the win. But when these two were out, Yateley's batting collapsed with 4 wickets falling in just one over. Yateley were eventually dismissed for 117 leaving Pete Avery stranded, once again, with no partners.
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| Sat 17 August - Berkshire League Wins all round |
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The 1st XI comfortably beat IBIS Mapledurham at
home. Yateley scored 196 with a team batting performance: Lawrence (28),
Fishleigh (29), Grimsley (27), Massey (23) and Mace (21). Pete Denston,
showing how well he has recovered from his accident, was the pick of the
bowlers with 5 for 34. Simon Massey picked up a few as usual (4 - 28)
to polish off IBIS for just 106 giving Yateley maximum points. The
Webmaster missed the action but arrived just in time to catch a photo
of jubuliant (?) skipper Simon. The 2nd XI won just as convincingly, beating Swindon NALGO by 8 wickets. Simon Mant was again in tremendous form with the ball taking 7 for 25 off 18 overs to dismiss Swindon for 101. Yateley had no trouble in getting the runs with Pete Platt scoring 26 and Tony King 25 not out. The 3rd XI overcame local rivals Hawley in a closer game. Hawley batted first and scored 174 for 8. Yateley did well to restrict them to this with their usual opening bowlers missing. Wakely took 2-26, Thirlog 2-26 and Dave Goddard 2-33. In reply Yateley were in trouble at 20 for 3 before Bernie Grossmith (33) and Thirlog (58 not) put together a useful partnership. When Bernie was out Rawat took over his role to get us almost there with a fine 40, leaving skipper Dave the glory of scoring the wining runs. Yateley won by 5 wickets.
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| Sat 10 August - A Wash Out |
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All three Berkshire League games were cancelled due to rain. The 4th
XI started their game at the Green but were abandoned due to a heavy
downpour. Courtesy of ace photographer Bob Drewell, the 4th XI are shown
below before the rain and John is preparing the wicket for the Sunday
game.
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| Sat 03 August - A Clean Sweep in the Berkshire League |
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Another early finish for the 1st XI as they polish
off Purley in just 26 overs. Batting first Purley were all out for 115
against Yateley's back to strength bowling attack. Simon Massey
took 5-36, Peter Denston (2-13), and Nick Eva (2-14). Unusually, Rob
Barrett remained wicketless. Michael Leary and Tom Lawrence got
Yateley's innings off to its customary safe start, although erratic
Purley bowling made sure extras was top score for the first 10 overs.
When Jonathan Ablett joined Tom the pace quickened and these two saw
Yateley home for the loss of just one wicket. Jonathan finished on 26
not out and Tom a well deserved half century (54 not). Tom and Jon are
shown below. Our new scorebox was in operation for the first time. The 2nd XI travelled to Purley and beat them by 4 wickets. Miserly bowling by Simon Mant who conceeded only 44 runs off 22 overs restricted Purley to 127 for 7 in their 45 overs. Simon took 5 wickets in a superb spell of limited overs bowling. Yateley didn't have all their way, losing 6 wickets before reaching the target. Selwyn Grimsley was the toast of the batting with 64. The 3rd XI entertained Thatcham at the Green and strengthened their grip at the top of the table with a fine 8-wicket win. The visitors were all out for 154. Wes Day took 3 wickets and John Branson 1, leaving it to Rawat to wrap things up with 4 for 6 off 5 overs. Ian Taylor continued his good form with the bat after carrying it through the innings for an unbeaten 68 to see Yateley home for the loss of 2 wickets. Other batters: Stuart Lawrence (29), Trilog (20) and Danny Mortimer (15 not). The 4th XI travelled half up the M1 for a friendly with Aldenham. Zahed got us off to a good start with 21 before the middle order batting collapsed. A last wicket stand of 31 between George Wakely and Simon Shirley enabled Yateley to reach a very respectable 151. Aldenham reached this total for the loss of 6 wickets. Stuart Skeates bowled well for one wicket and James Shillingford took 3 for 16.
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