Marlow struggling on sticky wicket (From Bucks Free Press)

Marlow CC prop up Thames Valley table

12:22pm Monday 30th July 2012 in Local Sport By Alan Feldberg

MARLOW are on a sticky wicket, but one of the most experienced players on the Bucks cricket circuit believes they can still save themselves.

Nick Paskins has scored more runs for Marlow than most of us have had hot dinners, but he’s still padding up every weekend and his unbeaten 53 on Saturday was the team’s high score against Basingstoke & North Hants.

However, it was in a losing cause again and now Marlow find themselves 50 points adrift at the foot of the Thames Valley League Division One, with just seven matches left.

Paskins said: “We’ve got six or seven weeks left, so there is still time.

“We’ve got to really work together to pull it around but everyone is very keen to do that.

“I’ve still got faith in the people here and I think you’ll see Marlow come good in the nex few weeks – hopefully it will be in time.”

Marlow haven’t won a single league match this season though, and their batting has been a constant thorn in the side.

Only once have they topped 200 runs and more than once have they fallen well short of par for the track, leaving their bowlers nothing to work with.

Paskins said: “In the last few weeks we’ve been more competitive with the ball, we’re fielding and bowling better, but we’re still struggling with the bat.

“Everyone is out of form at the same time and our confidence is low, which is a bad mix.

“We’ve got half of our game in place, now we just need to score some runs.”

The Basingstoke match was another example of that. The hosts plundered 251-4 before dismissing Marlow for just 158.

Paskins said: “Our availability has been poor this season, with people being away for work and playing half a season without an overseas players.

“We’ve also lost Leigh Atkinson, he is our captain and an exceptional cricketer so that’s been a major blow.

“We’ve probably only got half of the team we had last season, so it’s difficult for new people coming in.

“But there is definitely still time. Watch this space.”

On Saturday they go to Wokingham.