A commanding 90-run win over Stoke Green kept Chesham’s hopes of winning the Thames Valley Cricket League alive on Saturday.

The hosts controlled proceedings in a victory which takes them to within 19 points of the title favourites with three games to play.

Such an imposing win looked someway off after Chesham batted first and lost Matt Rance (15), Mark Eteen (6) and Luke Webb (1) cheaply.

Their middle order responded superbly to the departure of the Chesham top three to salvage a situation which looked to be getting away from them.

Andy Goddard was particularly impressive on his way to 89 from 122 deliveries before being stumped off the bowling of Zulfi Butt (2-43).

He shared a match changing partnership of 95 with Jason Rance (59) to turn the tide back in Chesham’s favour.

Their knocks were ably supported by Tom Free who made 48 not out to help guide his side to 255-8 from their innings.

The fact Chesham’s other four batsmen made five runs between them and Pip France and Chris Hedges were dismissed for ducks, further highlighted the importance of the trio’s scores.

Nadeer Malik was Green’s most dangerous bowler and claimed 2-5 from a solitary over, while Fahad Masood (2-30) and Arjun Kashyap (1-43) also contributed.

Gift Kwatsha (1-41) gave Chesham the ideal start to their fielding effort after he dismissed Karanpreet Singh for zero in the first over.

Any sense this would be an easy task soon dissipated, however, after Nadeer Malik (43) and Conrad Lough (56) put on 102 for the next wicket.

The game soon turned into a procession once Asad Rehman (1-33) and Pip France (2-12) had dismissed the pair.

Only Butt, with 28, made in into double figures and Green were all out for 165 runs after 37.5 overs.

Their collapse was largely caused by the quality of Jason Rance’s bowling as he finished with 5-36 after a superb display.