Beaconsfield’s slide down the Thames Valley league Division 2B table shows little sign of slowing after they fell to a 61 run defeat against Wargrave.

The defeat – bizarrely Beaconsfield’s first of the season – sees them drop into the relegation zone for the first time this year.

Wargrave made their intentions clear from the start as openers Imran Malik and Luke Taylor set about the Beaconsfield bowlers.

While Taylor’s effort of 43 was commendable, he was put in the shadows by his opening partner who scored a crunching 107 from just 90 deliveries.

Malik’s knock included 10 fours and six sixes as he set the tone for the remainder of the Wargrave innings.

In truth, Beaconsfield barely got close to troubling their opponents and only Arslan Yaseen with seven failed with the bat.

Unbeaten scores of 63 and 36 from Neal Robinson and Kam Hanif gave Wargrave a total of 276 from an innings which yielded only three wickets for Beaconsfield.

James Rendell had the most productive session of any of the host’s players as he claimed 2-61 as well as catching Malik off the bowling of Nilseh Odedra (1-52).

The imposing total meant it was imperative Beaconsfield got off to a good start in response, but they lacked solidity early on.

Openers Rendell (12) and Ram Jai Odedra (3) saw to that as Martin Smith skittled the Beaconsfield top three on his way to figures of 4-55.

What resistance Beaconsfield could offer came from Chris Thomas (67) and David Heavyside (39) but a lack of support for the pair ensured their attempts to salvage matters went unrewarded.

Sam Musk’s 22 not out provided some late hope but it came to nothing and Beaconsfield were all out for 215 in the 45th over.

Jack Clark (4-32), Waqas Khan (1-30) and Huw Thomas (1-38) all added to Smith’s four-wicket haul in a dominant Wargrave display.