Yateley 1st XI won by 6 wickets against Pinkneys Green. Pinkeys Green set a demanding total of 242 for 6 with Simon Massey taking 3 for 85. Yateley knocked off the runs for the loss of just 4 wickets in a solid batting performance, with Jon Ablett the star performer with 79 and Tom Lawrence (39), Michael Leary (50), Simon Massey (50), Simon Fishleigh (20) and James Mace (16).

Batting first the 2nd XI also scored 242 after Colin Justice (97) and Peter Platt (41) (shown below) laid the foundation with 100+ opening partnership. This was consolidated by Tony King with 45 off 24 balls and Kevin Glazier (24). Skipper Colin Justice declared early (on 40 overs) to give the team every opportunity of bowling out the opposition on a good track and fast outfield. Stratfield Turgis never really looked like they were interested in the run chase, however. Yateley did well to reduce them to 175 for 8 after 50 overs to take the winning draw. Wes Day took 1-17, Nick Viner (1-48), Peter Wilson 3-25 Colin Justice 1-35 and Danny Thatcher 2-29.

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The 3rd XI maintained their winning streak, this week against West Drayton at the Green. West Drayton scored 170 for 7 with Stuart Lawrence taking 3 wickets, John Branson 1, Rawat 2 and Dave Goddard 1. With Danny Mortimer responding to the skipper's request for quick runs, Yateley ended up as worthy winners for the loss of just 3 wickets. Trilog scored 34 not out, Ian Taylor 33, Tom Aldridge 30 and Danny Mortimer 35 not out.

Premier Divison leaders Sonning 'shut-up-shop' against second-placed Yateley 1st XI to avoid defeat in this top of the table clash. Yateley earned a winning draw after setting a target of 217 with Sonning holding on at 175-8. Tom Lawrence (30) and Jonathan Ablett (21) got the innings off to a sound start but Yateley were behind the clock at 90 for 4 when Simon Massey joined Simon Fishleigh at the crease. Massey advanced the tempo with a couple of daring reverse sweeps. Massey eventually departed with a fine 37 after being caught at long off. Young David Shears joined Fishleigh. Both batsmen then proceeded to dominate the Sonning bowling with Fishleigh (shown below) scoring an excellent 56 (which was more than his previous total runs for the season) and David 23 not out. The total was probably 30 runs short of what was needed to be safe against the League leaders, but Yateley bowled well. Danny Thatcher (1-27) got an early breakthrough and Rob Barrett, as usual, bowled accurately for his 4-63. Simon Massey (3-53) provided the stock bowling but we lacked the invention to winkle out the last two batsmen to gain the victory we deserved.

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The 2nd XI had a week off. The 3rd XI consolidated their position at the top of their table with another fine win - by 10 wickets against Peppard. Peppard were bowled out for just 111. Young Nick Viner was the main wicket taker with 5 for 24 with reliable John Branson taking 2-26. Shrni (1-32) and Rawat (2-31) played their part too. Skipper Dave Goddard's incentives for a quick finish did the trick with Yateley securing victory in just 15 overs! Stuart Lawrence (61 not) and Ian Taylor (45 not) knocked off the runs with no troubled.

A mixed 2nd/4th XI entertained Wokingham in a friendly at The Green. Wokingham scored 198-8 with wickets shared amongst the bowlers. There was some confusion over the location of teas due to the failure of the skipper (not named for legal reasons) to read his emails. Nevertheless, Yateley had no trouble in knocking off the runs for the loss of 5 wickets. The batting stars were: Grossmith (40), Platt (41), Jay (44 not) and David Ashfield (29).

Yateley duly won the Berkshire League Cup for the second year running in comfortable fashion against Purley at Theale & Tilehurst this evening. Rob Barrett and Peter Denston were back to bolster the bowling attack and restrict Purley to just 90 for 9 off their 16 x 8-ball overs. Both Rob (2-10) and Peter (0-19) bowled very economically whilst man-of-the-moment James Mace picked up the wickets with 5-22. James was twice on a hat trick. Andy Briggs played his part too, with 1-29. The total was never going to be enough against Yateley's in-form batting line up. James Mace soon got going with a series of sixes into the car park before attempting one too many, He fell to a catch on the boundary for a brisk 32. Jonathan Ablett looked classy for his 14 before the man in yellow pads (Simon Fishleigh) hit the winning runs with a knock of 23 not out. Yateley overhauled Purley's total for the loss of 5 wickets in just 10.3 overs. Easy!!
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A fantastic 125 not out from James Mace secured a brilliant victory against a strong Chessington side in the Three Counties Sunday League. Batting first Chessington scored 240 for 9 off their alloted overs. Wickets were shared between Pat Gilham 1, Pete Wilson 1, Nick Viner 2, Andy Briggs 2 and our hero James Mace 2. James was dropped on 1 but never looked back until he was again dropped in the nervous nineties. Yateley scored 243 for 5 to secure the points with a fine innings also from Saj who scored 48. Well done James - we needed you at Englefield on Saturday!!! 

An emphatic win for the 2nd XI, a heavy defeat for the 1st XI and close encounter for the 3rd XI in a friendly. The 1st XI, hampered once again by a weak bowling attack, found themselves chasing a total of 286 which Englefield reached with the loss of 6 wickets. Simon Massey was the pick of Yateley's bowlers with 4 for 72. He was supported by old timer Des Hutton (1-63), having his first bowl this millenium, and Andy Briggs (1-51). Michael Leary (11) and Tom Lawerence (31) got us off to a reasonable start but we couldn't afford to lose quick wickets chasing such a big total and the run chase failed badly with Yateley all out for 136. David Shears (22) looked very secure until the drinks interval once again broke his concentration. Batting with an arm injury. Simon Massey showed what might have been with a quick-fire 28 towards the end.
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The 2nd XI polished off West Drayton before tea in an easy 9-wicket win at Chandlers Lane.

With a free week in the League, the 3rd XI, entertained Chertsey in a friendly and suffered a similar fate as West Drayton with a finish before tea. Yateley were all out for 85 with Steve Ashfield top scoring with 14. However, our bowlers didn't make it easy for the Chertsey batsmen and nearly pulled off an unlikely victory after taking 9 wickets. John Branson took 5-23 off 14.2 overs to do most of the damage. Ian Taylor took 2-19, Dave Goddard (1-4) and Alex Barker 1-16.

With 156 in 15 eight-ball overs, Yateley posted what would have been a winning score in most Aylward Plate finals. But with four front line bowlers missing Aldershot never really looked in serious trouble. They accelerated strongly at the halfway stage and went on to win the match with 2 overs to spare. Never mind. We have still won this competition more times than any other club!

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The 2nd XI played out of their skins against top of the league Aldershot who batted first and scored 271 for 3 off their 45 overs. Yateley pulled off an unlikely win, scoring 275 for 5 with four overs to spare. After a few cancellations we have now picked 12 points out of 12 to put us 5th in the League.

An easy 160 run win for the 1st XI at Chandlers Lane against Nettlebed & Sywncombe with Rob Barrett the star after our batsmen rattle up 211-5. All who batted found runs easy to come by: Michael Leary 42, Tom Lawrence 35, Jon Ablett 59, Kevin Denston 44 and Simon Massey 17. Rob Barrett (below), whilst anxiously awaiting the birth of his first child, wasted no time in despatching the opposition with a devastating spell of 5-11 off 12 overs to dismiss Nettlebed for just 50 runs.

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In contrast the 2nd XI lost by 95 runs to Warfield. Warfield scored 197 for 9, which should have been well within the reach of our side containing two first eleven players (Mace and Fishleigh). Yateley got off to a bad start and were 6 for 3 and 12 for 4 before some resistance was shown by Tony King (18) and Simon Mant (15). It was 'too little too late', however, as we were dismissed for 102.

After a long unbeaten run the 3rd XI came unstuck against Englefield losing by 7 wickets. Yateley were all out for 135 with extras top score. It's probably not worth mentioning that Brian Denston got 11, Pete Platt 10 and Bernie Grossmisth 17. Warfield overhauled our total for the loss of just 3 wickets. After the game skipper Dave Goddard commented: "The 3rd XI lost the plot today! We'll be back, and I am confident we will win the League this season."

We have reached two finals: Aylward Plate at Hartley Wintney on Tues 9 July at 6.00 pm and Berkshire League Knock-Out Cup on Tues 16 July against Purley at Theale & Tilehurst at 6.00 pm. Come and give our lads support. The team for both games is: Mace, Leary, Lawrence (T), Denston (K), Shears, Barrett, Briggs, Gillham, Fishleigh (S), Miller and Saj.

A fantastic performance by James Mace has seen us through to the Final of the KO Cup to defend the trophy we won last year. In a match reduced to 12 8-ball overs due to rain Waltham St Lawrence rattled up 138 for 8 against Yateley's injury hit bowling attack. Richard Heywood 1-28, James Mace 1-26, Andy Briggs 1-33 and under 15 Chris Miller 0-48 each bowled 3 overs. Remarkably Yateley knocked off the runs for the loss of no wickets. James hit 83 not out, including 6 sixes and 7 fours. He was ably supported by Michael Leary who scored 35 no to secure the 10-wicket win in just 9.4 overs. The final is next Tuesday (9 July) at Theale & Tilehurst. If we win the Aylward Plate semi final on Thurs against Cove we will have a fixture clash since that final is also on the same evening.