The 2nd XI\s match with Slough 3rd XI turned out to be a real thriller, ending with the scores level. When the final over started, Slough required 16 with just two wickets in hand. They managed two singles from the first two balls, but Singh then hit two sixes onto the pavilion roof to leave two required from two balls. He took a single from the next ball, leaving Slough skipper Payne on strike. Graham Dare kept his nerve and Payne missed the final ball, also forgetting to run, leaving his partner Singh stranded at the same end. It was a fair result after a great day\s cricket.
Wooburn had opted to bat after winning the toss, and built an excellent total of 235-2 from their 52 overs. The innings was anchored by Alan Cuthbert (119*), but all the batsmen contributed. Angus Porter (28) helped add 53 for the first wicket, then Rob Smith (43) was involved in a second wicket stand of 133, before Stuart Savage (35*) provided the fireworks at the end.
When Slough batted, Ben Sturgess made an early breakthrough, but G.Khan was soon into his stride, showing some clean hitting in his 52 before he fell to Graham Dare. Rob Smith then chipped in with a couple of wickets, but Slough kept up with the required rate.
The game appeared to be going Slough\s way until Dare performed one of the more unusual hat-tricks, every victim being caught in the deep. First to go was Malik, caught above his head by Dave Small on the long off boundary. Next ball, S.Khan hoisted the ball high towards deep mid-wicket where Steve Vinter took a fine catch. The final victim was I.Ghazi, who had returned after retiring hurt. He hit the first ball of Dare\s next over to long on, where Cuthbert took the catch running in. The hat-trick was even more unlikely, given the spate of dropped catches, missed run outs and overthrows that had preceded it.
With two overs left, Slough now found themselves at 211-8, but Payne and Singh scrambled nine off the first of them, before the drama of the last over was played out. The 15 points gained was a good reward for the 2nds, and gives them a fighting chance of avoiding the drop.
