The 2nd XI survived relegation from TVL Division 4A by the narrowest of margins after being held to a draw by bottom of the table Chesham. They finished the season level on points with Maidenhead & Bray, but by virtue of having more wins than Bray, they managed to scramble out of the bottom two places. The vital 12th bonus point was secured with only 8 balls of the season remaining, when Derek Milsom caught Adams off the bowling of Dave Small. It could hardly have been closer.
At the start of the game, Wooburn had to assume that the maximum 25 points were required for safety, and opted to bat after winning the toss. They started badly when Angus Porter was dismissed in the first over, but Alan Cuthbert and Rob Smith recovered the position with a stand of 59 for the second wicket. Tab Nawaz then helped add a further 52 for the third wicket before Cuthbert was bowled off his pads for 55. Tab soon followed, caught on the cover boundary for 20, and a promising 112-2 had become 112-4.
Paul Cuthbert now reminded everyone what a fine player he is, pacing his innings perfectly over the last 20 overs. He received good support from Stuart Savage (10) in a stand of 30, and Richie Barker (16) in a stand of 33. Dave Small came in at the end to try and push on towards 200, but was stumped off the last ball as Wooburn finished just short of picking up the maximum 10 batting points. Paul Cuthbert remained unbeaten on 40. For Chesham, Ladyman bowled steadily to take 5-57, and left-arm spinner Wheeler took 2-65 from 19 overs.
The news from Ascot was encouraging. Maidenhead & Bray had been bowled out for 82, with Royal Ascot 64-2 in reply. Assuming Ascot lost no further wickets, Wooburn required 8 wickets to pull level on points with Maidenhead & Bray.
Chesham\‘s innings got off to a flier. The ball disappeared to all parts as Brinklow and Beatty took toll of some wayward bowling. The introduction of Richie Barker stemmed the flow, his pace troubling the batsmen. He broke through when Beatty pulled a short ball straight to Savage at mid wicket. Rob Rogers then trapped Shakoor in front, before Barker struck again to remove the dangerous Brinklow. Royals was then run out going for a short single, and Rogers took his second wicket when Rashid Mahmood was bowled playing no stroke.
At 83-5 after 26 overs, Wooburn looked well-placed to force the win they needed. Failing that, three more wickets would be enough. Taylor, who had endured a wretched season, now resisted stoutly for Chesham. His partner Wheeler also defended well, hitting hard when the bowlers overpitched. Frustration for Wooburn ended when Rogers deceived Taylor in the flight and bowled him in the 34th over. Four overs later, Wheeler was lbw to Rogers, and safety came within Wooburn\‘s grasp.
Chesham\‘s two colts now joined forces, and showed the straighest of bats. Both looked solid as Wooburn wrung the changes. Rogers continued to wheel away at one end, while Paul Cuthbert, Barker and finally Small all tried to get the crucial eighth wicket. With time running out, Dave Small delivered. A short ball outside off stump, Adams went for the cut, Milsom taking the catch. Ladyman secured the draw for Chesham, but that crucial final wicket was enough to lift Wooburn out of the bottom two.
