Gerrards Cross got their Home Counties campaign off to the perfect start in Division Two as they annihilated Cove by 132 runs.

Matt Watson (91) and Sam Westaway (43) laid the foundations for a big total as they put on 112 for the third wicket to take Cross up to 129-3 after 30 overs.

Dan Hampton stepped on the gas racing to 51 off just 40 balls to leave the hosts on 182-4 with ten overs remaining.

What came next stunned the visitors as No6 Jamie Hoddle ripped the Cove bowlers apart, bludgeoning his way to 81 not out off just 35 balls including nine fours and four sixes.

The middle order batsman twice took more than 20 from an over and helped Cross plunder 134 runs from the final ten overs as they finished on 316-7.

In response, Cove were always up against it after Hampton (5-28) took the first three wickets to leave them rocking on 33-3.

Elliot Green was also in fine form with the ball, taking 4-37 as the away team limped to 132-8.

Hampton came back into the attack to clean up the tail as Cove finished all out for 184 from 39.4 overs.

Amersham host Cross on Saturday on the back of an opening day six wicket defeat to Datchet.

Batting first Amersham lost opener Adam Ali after he was bowled for three before Bruce Friderichs (41) and Andrew Viney, who top scored with 86 not out, steadied the ship.

A middle order collapse saw only one of the next six batsmen reach double figures as the visitors closed on 192-8 after 50 overs.

Datchet had few problems chasing down their target and finished the match with a six to win with 3.3 overs to spare.

In Division One, High Wycombe got life under new captain Nathan Hawkes off to the best possible start with a five wicket win against Burnham.

The visitors bowled their hosts out for just 157 before chasing down their target to collect 20 points for their afternoons work.

Beaconsfield began their Thames Valley League campaign with an eight wicket defeat to Wokingham in Division One.

Becky batted first in a match which was reduced to 37 overs a side and posted a total of 174-6 with Nilesh Odedra top scoring with 82.

Wokingham were always in control of their run chase and eased to their target for the loss of just two wickets.

Elsewhere in Division One, Chesham and Marlow went head-to-head with the former triumphing by six wickets.

Jason Rance put Marlow in to bat after winning the toss – a decision he was questioning after watching the visitors race to 100-1.

However, the hosts would come out to bat chasing only 161 to win after Matt Watson (5-45) and Dan Babula, who picked up four wickets, ripped through the away batting line-up.

A solid 58 by Mark Eteen and 44 not out by Rance saw Chesham home with a six wicket win.