Although the team was consistently competitive this year, at critical times we did not quite have the edge of last year and so ended up on the losing side more often than not. It would seem that our 11th position may not be quite enough to gain access to the top level of the proposed restructured 3rd XI leagues next year. However, strange things can happen during the winter months regarding the composition of new leagues!

Victories were gained against Hurst, North Maidenhead, Kidmore End, Hounslow (and Kenton in a friendly). Cove, Reading and Windsor (more below) of the defeats could quite easily have gone the other way and we should have done better against Wokingham, Lensbury and Finchampstead III. Thirty players played this year, fewer than recent seasons, which reflected quite good availability.

Whilst nobody could match last year's outstanding season by John Seymour and John Langley there were nonetheless some notable performances. The individual highlight was clearly Rob George's club record 181* against Windsor and assisted by Nick McKnight (89) to another record of 316 for 6 decl after 45 overs. In a completely unique situation, Windsor's Aussie opener beat all sorts of records in scoring 224* to help Windsor to win by 10 wickets with 10 overs to spare. The reason for suggesting above that we could have won this game is that he was dropped three times (two dollies) before he reached 10 and it was clear that his colleagues would not have won or drawn the game without him.

The batting highlights throughout the season were the regularly good opening partnerships by Rob Viney and John Langley and Jeremy Alwyn's best season for some time. The wickets were well spread with David Viney, Brian Watt, Andrew Smith, Charles Holloway and John Seymour sharing 74 wickets.

It was a great pleasure to have Rob Viney playing throughout the season and Chris Cowley, Ben Ramsden and Ben Langley each playing a few games. My thanks are also due to Ben Langley who scored for us on a number of occasions and who kept an exemplary book.

Finally my thanks are due to Brian for deputising during my absence on holiday, Melanie and Margaret for their consistently good teas and Jim for doing his best with limited material on the back pitch - mind you, good enough for 635 runs in 90 overs for the Windsor match contrary to Brian's pre-match view!

Roll- on next season!

Batting (qualification 6 innings)

	Innings	Not Out	Runs	Highest	Average
John Langley	11	1	360	94	36.0
Jeremy Alwyn	13	0	319	75	26.6
Rob Viney	11	0	262	69	23.8
David Mackintosh	11	2	120	30*	13.3
David Viney	11	0	134	34	12.2
Harry Heslop	8	0	66	26	8.3
John Marks	6	3	29	9	9.7

Bowling (qualification 10 wickets)

	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets	Average
Brian Watt	73	14	227	15	15.1
David Viney	105	19	358	19	18.8
Andrew Smith	69	9	301	14	21.5
Charles Holloway	73	7	310	14	22.1
John Seymour	112	19	407	12	33.9

Catches (qualification 4)
Matt George 8
Jeremy Alwyn 7
David Mackintosh 6
Robert Viney 5
John Langley 4

Reading won the toss and inserted us on a damp wicket with the intention of retaining their unbeaten record. After Rob Viney's early departure, John Langley and James Baxter made light of difficult batting conditions to take the score up to the mid eighties before both departed in quick succession. This created a mini collapse and we eventually struggled to 139, still not a bad score in the conditions but thought likely at tea to be about 25 too few.

Despite good bowling from David Viney, John Seymour and Graham Brown and a regular fall of wickets, Reading were stabilised by Andy Dindar with an unbeaten and match winning 40. It would have been most interesting if he had been given out LBW when on 10 to a delivery that most of us thought would have hit the upper part of the middle stump.

So we end the season in 10th position, three positions lower than last year, but it has been pleasing to note that we have always been competitive. Perhaps a little more application, good fortune and better availability would have lifted us a few positions. However, if only?

I look forward to seeing as many as possible at the Players'/Supporters' Dinner on Friday 15th September at the Club and hopefully to an equally enjoyable season next year with maybe a few more wins. Thanks to all the lads who have played this year.

Last Saturday's game vs Finch IIIs was cancelled due to the rain. All other games in the league were also cancelled although two were due to Cove and OMT not being able to raise sides.

We have the last game away at Reading on Saturday. They are third in the league and are unbeaten. We remain in eleventh position.

We easily won this friendly fixture arranged via the Conference on our "league gap Saturday". Somewhat disappointingly, Kenton decided to bat on winning the toss but were no match for a varied Amersham attack which saw everybody get a bowl except John Seymour. We helped them to a reasonable 125 which was then knocked off fairly comfortably. The mainstay of the Amersham innings was John Seymour who opened the batting and scored a sparkling 20 before retiring hurt.

We return to league duty next week against Finchampstead at home (12.30 kick off) and will try to improve on our 11th position in the league.

This was by far the most freakish and extraordinary game in which I have ever played with 635 runs in only 90 overs and the two highest scores in any game that I have played.

Strangely it did not begin that way with Amersham making a bad start on a good batting wicket to be 34 for 4 after 13 overs. However Rob George, playing only his second game this season, was still there and he and David Mackintosh then put on 100 runs in the next 13 overs. This set the scene for a combined assault on the tiring Windsor bowling by both Rob and Nick McKnight who scored about 180 runs in the next 19 overs before the declaration.

Rob, who survived some early chances, went on to make 181 no which is the highest score by any Amersham player in the club's history. Latterly he was striking the balll quite beautifully and with apparently little effort. His two final strokes were huge sixes over the river.

Although the declaration came early in terms of overs there was uncertainty as to whether or not it was over-delayed to ensure that Riob reached the club record. However it was also known that Windsor's overseas Australian player had been scoring heavily in recent weeks. In the event, the declaration was probaby some five overs too early as he led them to an easy victory with 10 overs to spare, having literally slaughtered the Amersham bowling. He ended up with 224 not out, surely a record for the Thames Valley League, and probably many others for that matter.

However, it could all have been quite different as he was dropped first ball to probably the easiest catch all season and then again from another easy chance about 15 minutes later. Thereafter, although he survived two further difficult chances, he was quite unstoppable.

We are now in the middle of the table and will be playing a friendly next Saturday as there is no league match.

John Langley anchored the innings against a very useful OMT attack and it was thought at tea that the target which was set would be challenging. However this was not to be as OMT attacked very strongly against some wayward bowling and the target was easily reached within 34 overs. Andrew Smith picked up three wickets.

We play Windsor at home next week and hope to improve on our three defeats on the trot!

Amersham elected to field at Shardeloes on Saturday against a strong Wycombe side. Wycombe got off to a flying start, scoring 40 for the loss of one wicket after ten overs. This increased to 102 after 20 overs. David Viney produced a good speel of swing bowling to peg Wycombe back, and took 5-36 off twelve overs.

Wycombe were all out for 162 off only 35 overs, leaving Amersham 65 overs to win the match. Amersham got off to a poor start, losing three wickets before tea, not helped by Will Walsh running out his brother for nought. Amersham never really recovered despite a solid 32 from Rob VIney and lusty hitting from Andy Smith at the end, which added 44 runs for the last three wickets.

Amersham fell 33 runs short in a good contest.

Amersham lost the toss and were asked to bat on a very good wicket. Despite adding 50 for the first wicket, Amersham lost their way and slipped to 78 for three, and were eventually bowled out for 148, undone by some donkey leg spin which I suspect few players had encountered before.

The meagre total set by Amersham was never going to be enough, and with a couple of dropped catches, Lensbury comfortably passed the Amersham score with overs to spare. Andy Smith was the pick of the Amersham bowlers, taking two for twelve off seven overs.

Despite yet another soft wicket the captain opted to bat and was rewarded with a carefully crafted 206 runs allowing an early declaration. Rob Viney and John Langley provided their usual solid start and Rob, after several relatively easy chances were spilled, went on to make 69 runs. Matt George ran into some form with a brisk 46 and the skipper provided a few (25) quick runs to facilitate an early declaration.

Brian Watt again bowled beautifully and made early gains well supported by Charles Holloway. However, there was a sting in the tail when one of the Hounslow batsmen with four consecutive ducks to his name slogged 48 runs all on the leg side. Fortunately we eventually got him out and then had to suffer some anxious moments before we broke a strong looking sixth wicket stand after which wickets fell rapidly. Holloway was the pick of the wicket takers with 5 and Watt taking 3.

We have moved up to 7th in the table on which we hope to improve against Lensbury this week.

Having won the toss and with rain around, the captain decided to insert Kidmore End on a soft wicket but pleasant ground at Caversham. A weak Kidmore End side were no match for Amersham's excellent bowling and Smith, Watt and Viney took 4, 3 and 3 wickets respectively to dismiss them for only 57 in 38 overs. Daniel Adams softened up the opposition with some hostile and occasionally wayward bowling.

Robert Viney (20) and John Langley (26no) ensured a comfortable reply and, with Jeremy Alwyn chipping in with 10no, we passed the score in an untroubled fashion in 18 overs.

We move up one position to eighth in the table and now look forward to next week's home game with Hounslow.

This was a very disappointing result from what appeared to be a strong side on paper. The damp wicket lived up to the expectation of producing a low scoring game and, once again, the lack of another 20 runs proved too difficult to overcome. Although Finch's opening bowler, Squires, bowled well for his 6 for 41, he and his colleagues were helped by half the Amersham batsmen who got themselves out when a bit more discipline would have helped. Jeremy Alwyn and Mark van B top scored with 29 and 19 respectively.

We made a great start by reducing Finch to 7 for 3 and were still well in it when their captain, the elder Squires, took charge and ensured that there would be no collapse to defeat. However, we still took 7 wickets on a wicket that was definitely easier later in the game. Holloway and Watt bowled particularly well for 3 wickets each.

We remain at 9th position in the league and hope to take some advantage of playing the bottom three sides in each of the next three weeks.

Amersham won the toss and decided to bat on a cold and dull day on a vety pleasant ground for 3rd XI cricket. John Langley and Robert Viney provided the usual steady start putting on some 50 runs for the first wicket before a mini collapse saw Langley, Viney and Baxter back in the pavilion within six balls. Jeremy Alwyn in his inimitable and unique style and Chris Cowley steadied the ship by adding some 60 runs in quick time. Thereafter Nick McKnight with some lusty hitting reached an excellent 50 ably supported by Andrew Smith. The team ultimately reached an unlikely 236 all out in the 52nd over reflecting a good all round performance.

David Viney and John Seymour opened with the old ball and David, in particular, bowled some unplayable deliveries. Wickets started to fall regularly and the run rate fell behind quite sharply. Andrew Smith made good use of the new ball in picking up three wickets in the middle order and John Langley was brought on for eight overs to improve the run rate and to try to buy a wicket - the trick worked well as he bowled their dangerous hitter, the West Indian number ten, who had just hit an enormous six. David Viney was brought back on with six overs to go to mop up the last man with a superb catch by Graham Brown. Never was the old adage "catches win matches" in evidence as all chances were held and the fielding in general was of a high standard.

A very satisfying win was achieved with a good allround performance with bat and ball and this takes us up two places to ninth in the league. Next week we entertain Finchampstead 4th XI at Shardeloes and hope to build on this week's win.

Having won the toss, Datchet decided to bat on a glorious sunny afternoon at lesser Shardeloes. Amersham made a very good start having reduced Datchet to 112 for 7 after 30 overs with Charles Holloway hitting the stumps three times. However the advantage was not pressed home and, with the obligatory several catches dropped, Datchet reached an improbable 220 for 8 after 52 overs. For the fifth match running an opposition batsman reached a high score, this time 88no, with the rest of his colleagues chipping in a few runs.

Amersham made a good start with John Langley (33) and Mark van Duyvenbode taking the score to 72 after 22 overs before John was bowled by a beauty. Mark (46) was then subject to a marginal LBW decision and thereafter the middle order batting subsided against some steady Datchet bowling. It was left to David Mackintosh (30no) and Charles Holloway to bat out the last ten overs for a very disappointing draw at 157 for 7.

This result places us 11th in the table with 59 points and we look forward to playing North Maidenhead next week who are two places above us.

This was a pleasing first win for the 3rd XI in a well-controlled chase for the runs. Hurst won the toss and decided to bat on a featherbed of a wicket and with a short boundary on the road side of the attractive Knowl Hill Cricket Club Ground. The wicket played surprisingly well and even had some bounce. Amersham's opening attack of Andrew Smith and Nick McKnight, both playing their first game of the season, was steady and generated one early wicket for Nick. Thereafter Brown and Seymour did a good containment job against some strong hitting from the Hurst number three. A higher than average number of dropped catches helped Hurst to their total which would have been even higher if Nick McKnight not taken a brilliant catch to dismiss the number three when well into his eighties.

Father and son Viney opened the innings and provided a very good start with a partnership of over fifty of which Robert contributed a very elegant thirty-four. David continued to hold one end solid whilst Jeremy Alwyn raced to another fifty, aided by some poor catching on Hurst's part. Thereafter, Chris Cowley, playing his first game, made a very composed twenty-seven no and he and David Mackintosh made sure there would be no panic by comfortably passing the total with five overs to spare.

Amersham 20 points: Hurst 12 points. This win moves Amersham up to joint tenth in the table with Hurst and looking forward to next week's home game with Datchet.

Beaconsfield were inserted on a slow and damp wicket and a good containment job was done on all batsmen except one who scored 97. Mike Palmer bowled very well and his figures of 2 for 71 from 21 overs did not do him justice. David Viney, John Seymour and John Marks took 3, 2 and 2 wickets respectively.

Amersham made a bad start losing their three top batsmen, Langley, van Duyvenbode and Bater cheaply and only reaching 12 for 3 from 12 overs. Thereafter it was a struggle but Rob and David Viney, Harry Heslop and Jerry Alwyn all made good contributions in the twenties but overall Beaconsfield retained the initiative. It took them to the first ball of the last over to remove John Seymour and win the match.

After a poorish start to the season we look forward to playing at Hurst next week and hopefully to some success.

This was a great cricket match played in excellent spirit on the Army's main ground at Aldershot, complete with electronic scoreboard. Jerry Alwyn, two stones lighter this year, provided the mainstay of the innings with 75 and John Langley, 44, and Dan Spalding with a very stylish 36no provided the main support. It was good to see another Mackintosh, Gordon, nephew of David playing and bringing some inspiring Scottish phrases to his excellent running between the wickets.

A very tight opening spell saw Cove at only 65 for 3 after 26 overs with about 6.5 an over run rate to win. The team agreed that the game needed to be opened up if we were to stand any chance of winning and Cove took advantage of this and some dropped catches to sneak home in the penultimate over with eight wickets down. Brian Watt bowled superbly and took 4 for 34.

Amersham 14 points: Cove 20 points

This was a fairly inauspicious start for the 3rd XI with most players playing their first game. The wicket was, as expected, slow and low and only Robert Viney, top scoring with 36, and John Langley, 24, made significant contributions on the day. The fielding and bowling left plenty of room for improvement.

Amersham 5 points: Wokingham 20 points