SLOUGH CC captain Bobby Sher believes beating reigning champions Henley would “set a standard” for his side ahead of Saturday’s mouth-watering Home Counties Premier Cricket League Division One clash.

The Upton Court Park side finished as runners-up last year, and could have been champions if not for two batting collapses against their next opponents.

A Henley side made up entirely of Minor Counties players has been further strengthened by the arrival of Australia Under-19 star Jake Doran and Cornwall’s Matt Rowe this season – both of whom made 50s on their league debuts last weekend.

But Slough’s popular captain Sher believes his side are ready for the test.

He told The Observer: “It’s obviously going to be a very difficult game but we’re looking forward to it.

“At the end of the day it will take a big performance to beat them. They know us and we know them and they have recruited two very good players. It will be very difficult for us.” Despite Slough’s success in the two years since they were promoted back into the top flight, they have lost all four league games against Henley, as well as a Twenty20 Cup semi-final.

Their three defeats last summer were all close affairs, however, with Slough failing to chase 145 and 170 for victory in the league, while Henley successfully chased 196 to win the T20 off the last ball.

And Sher admitted: “In the past we have been let down by our batting, but hopefully that will be fine.

“I wouldn’t say at the moment it’s a must-win game. It would be nice to win and it would set a standard. It would give us a boost but it is not win or bust.” Slough began their season with a 19-run win in a high-scoring affair at Harefield last Saturday.

Sher’s side were endebted to fine knocks from Shahid Yousuf (99), Waqas Hussain (77) and debutant Lloyd Paternott (57) as they racked up a huge 297 all out, before restricting the hosts to 278-9.

The skipper commented: “It was a decent performance to start off with.

“We lost the toss and were put in to bat on what was quite a wet wicket. The ball was swinging and seaming and the batsman worked hard to get through that. Then Lloyd and Waqas got stuck in and put the bad balls away.

“Shahid hit the ball all over the place and we could have scored more than 300, but he got out with three overs remaining.” He continued: “We batted very well but we were 20% off with our bowling and fielding and we dropped three catches.

“It’s the first game and the main thing is we got the win, but we have got to work harder.” Sher reserved special praise for Paternott – who has been playing for Oxford MCCU this summer having previously played for Northamptonshire 2nds – and overseas star Yousuf.

He gushed: “I was over the moon with Lloyd and for a debut it was brilliant. He could have gone on to score a lot more but he tried to push the score on for the team.

“Shahid returned to the form of two summers ago and was on a different level. That’s how we expect him to play.” Saturday’s clash with Henley will be the first home league game for Slough this summer, and Sher is hoping for an entertaining contest in a division he believes is improving in quality.

He concluded: “We have done a lot of work in the winter on the square and it will be nice to play there so lets hope the weather holds.

“The standard this season is higher than in many years. There are some very good players and it adds to the excitement.

“We have five or six players under the age of 23 and we have got a very young squad, but we’re looking to drive on and they give their all.” Saturday’s game is a 50-overs per side contest and starts at 11.30am.

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