An impressive bowling display from Slough’s Iklaq Nawaz Raja condemned High Wycombe to a 71-run defeat on Saturday.

The Home Counties Premier League Division One champions were powerless to resist Raja as they fell someway short of Slough’s 215 all out.

The visitors batted first and the early run out of opener Mohammed Avas appeared to give Wycombe the impetus to push on for victory.

However, a stand of 66 from Nabil Shah (56) and Waqas Hussain (40) led to a shift in the balance of the match.

Once Slough’s key men had been removed by Alan Duncan (3-44) and Paul Sawyer (1-48), the scoring rate settled to a more mundane pace.

In fact many of Slough’s batsmen failed to make any serious inroads as only Shazid Rana (33) and Ali Akbar Raja (23) made it beyond 20.

Their contributions would prove to be telling and helped their side to 215 all out from 56.3 overs.

James Benning (2-62), Gavin Baker (1-0), Uzair Amjaid (1-12) and Adam Dobb (1-46) accounted for the remaining Slough wickets as all of Wycombe’s bowlers struck.

Wycombe have often been able to rely on their batting throughout this campaign, but they came painfully unstuck against Raja.

A devastating spell saw him dismiss Wycombe’s top four for just 31 runs on his way to figures of 5-47.

Alan Duncan (21) and George Russell (16) provided brief respite before Duncan fell to Shaan Khan (1-48) and Raja re-emerged to claim the wicket of Russell.

Their departures brought David Cranfield-Thompson to the crease and he scored a battling 42 from 39 deliveries to give Wycombe hope of coming away with a win.

His efforts mattered little in the end though as the tail failed to stand up to a Slough bowling attack which now smelt victory.

Benning (17) and Cameron Parsons (20 not out) did their best to rally their side, but could not inspire an unlikely turnaround.

Raja’s effort in the field was ably supported by his fellow bowlers as Shahid Yousaf (2-23) and Steven Green (1-19) also chipped in.

Wycombe are now fourth in Division One and sit 26 points behind current league leaders Finchampstead who romped to a 95 run win over Burnham on Saturday.

With retaining their title still very much at the top of the Wycombe agenda, they will want to return to winning ways as soon as possible.

Their next match against Harefield will provide the opportune chance to do just that as they come up against Harefield on Saturday.

The division’s bottom side are without a win in 10 games this season and suffered a 36 run defeat against Banbury last time out.

Wycombe will also take confidence from the nine-wicket win they enjoyed over Harefield in May.