20/08/2025
Emmbrook’s Relegation Fears Deepen After Bracknell Defeat
League leaders Bracknell tightened their grip on the title race with victory at Lowther Road on Saturday, condemning Emmbrook & Bearwood to yet another defeat and leaving them staring relegation firmly in the face.
Emmbrook, who have not managed a positive result since the end of May, were again hampered by selection issues. Skipper Matt Loxton, however, gave his side first use of a fresh wicket after winning the toss under overcast skies. Opening with Will Wells, Loxton looked to lay a platform against Bracknell’s new-ball pair of Ganguly and Tyagi.
The start was promising enough. Wells drove fluently, striking three boundaries as the pair put on 46. But in the eighth over disaster struck as Wells was bowled by Tyagi for 22, undone by a ball that kept low. Connor Simpson was removed in the same manner, bowled for a duck by Tyagi with the score on 52 in the tenth over, and Emmbrook’s momentum was broken.
Ollie Williams joined Loxton but struggled to rotate the strike against Bracknell’s accuracy. He lasted six overs for just three before falling lbw to Taliyan, leaving the home side 65 for three. Jason Middleton, usually a reliable source of quick runs, also found the attack difficult to get away. Loxton, who had battled hard for 39 from 59 deliveries with four fours and a six, was next to go, caught by Mehtab off Kedia to make it 77 for four.
From there Emmbrook slipped rapidly. Rohit Kanagavel managed just a single, while Middleton perished trying to break free for 25. Ronan David went soon after for three, and Dave Healey followed in similar fashion, caught on the boundary attempting a big hit for seven. Gibbs was bowled by Ganguly for eight as wickets continued to tumble and Emmbrook were reduced to 128 for nine in the 32nd over.
A spirited late counterattack gave the innings some respectability. Jake David announced himself by striking his first ball to the rope and went on to hit 31 from 24 balls, including four boundaries and a six. Alec McNab provided support at the other end before launching his own assault, clearing the ropes twice against Nasim in the 40th over. Their efforts carried Emmbrook to 193 before David was brilliantly caught and bowled by Ganguly. Alec McNab was left unbeaten on 35, but the final total of 193 all out in 42 overs looked below par. Kedia was the standout with figures of five for 25, well supported by Tyagi’s two for 38 and Ganguly’s two for 68.
If Emmbrook’s batting had faltered, their bowlers gave them a glimmer of hope in the reply. Middleton struck with his second delivery, bowling Sardar for four. In the following over Gibbs found the edge of Tyagi, Simpson clutching a sharp chance at cover to leave Bracknell teetering at 11 for two.
The reprieve was short-lived. Anwar and Mehtab counter-attacked, punishing anything loose and taking Middleton for 52 runs from just five overs. Gibbs fared little better, conceding 33 from his first spell, and suddenly Bracknell were on the front foot.
The introduction of spin changed the tone. Simpson struck in his second over, Healey holding a straightforward chance at midwicket to remove Mehtab for a rapid 48 from 32 balls that included three fours and four sixes. Simpson struck again shortly after, Jake David snapping up Ganguly for three, and when Williams found Puri’s edge for Loxton to hold behind the stumps Bracknell had slipped to 112 for five.
Anwar continued to steady the innings but was run out for 46 after a mix-up with Kedia, undone by a bullet throw from Ronan David in the deep. When Simpson claimed his third wicket, Kedia chipping tamely to mid-on for 13, Bracknell were 139 for seven and still required 54 runs with only three wickets left.
For a brief moment, Emmbrook sensed an unlikely win. Healey and David bowled with fire, both unlucky not to make further inroads. Yet Bracknell’s lower order held firm. Taliyan, with a composed unbeaten 41, found a resolute partner in Kondapalli, who contributed 17 not out. Together they compiled an unbroken stand of 55, steering Bracknell to victory in the 36th over and leaving Emmbrook once again empty-handed.
Simpson’s three for 26 was the highlight for Emmbrook, but it was little consolation. The defeat leaves them mired in the relegation places alongside Wargrave, while Bracknell, now 37 points clear of second-placed Fleet, are poised to all but secure the championship next weekend.
Elsewhere in the division, Eversley coasted past Fleet by nine wickets, Binfield triumphed at Finchampstead by six wickets, Shinfield earned a vital three-wicket win over Newbury, and Wokingham overcame bottom club Wargrave in a high-scoring encounter.
With only a handful of matches remaining, the stakes are high. Bracknell host Wokingham next, Fleet entertain Shinfield, while Eversley travel to Binfield. At the bottom, the relegation picture could become clearer with Emmbrook visiting Newbury and Wargrave at home to Finchampstead.
