Thames Valley Cricket League Division 4ahayes 189-3 (20pts) Beat British Airways  186-8 (9pts) By Seven Wickets,

Hayes beat nine-man British Airways to open up a 12-point lead at the top of the table and further strengthen their grip on the division.

Sean Morgan returned his best figures of the year and a half-century from Simon Green saw Hayes ease to victory by seven wickets.

With three games to go, two of which are against bottom two sides Bagshot II and Chalfont St Peter II, Hayes are hot favourites to win promotion in their first year back in the Thames Valley League, especially if the weather holds. The title might even be theirs by the time they play second-placed Slough III on the final day of the season.

British Airways wererecently docked 50 points for their part in a pitch confrontation at Chalfont St Peter, which also left them with two players suspended and they arrived at Hayes with only nine men. They decided to bat after winning the toss and although Rex Kumar trapped Sheikh LBW in the first over, his fellow opener Kathait and Swaroop kept the runs flowing and the scorereached 78 before Kumar (2-47) won another LBW decision to dismiss Swaroop (23).

Morgan then came on and when he had Boyce LBW for a duck, Bhayani LBW for five and then claimed the prize scalp of Kathait, caught on the boundary by Chris Frost for a marvellous 69, he had his best analysis for the year with three for 29.

BA were struggling at 130 for five and although Khan (38 not out) provided stern resistance to hold the visitors together, Tom King (2-31) bowled Kiani (12) and Mann (10) to leave the opposition at 172 for seven. Steve Cooper (1-4), making only his second appearance of the season, finished off the Airways innings at 186 for eight when King caught Chadha for six in the 39th over.

Steve Forey and Steve Cooper got Hayes off to a solid start by making 38 before Forey was LBW to Kiani for 16 and Michael Green was not about to hang around, hitting the only six of the game in his rapid 39, but having put on 56 for the second wicket he was bowled by Kathiat.

Simon Green then joined Cooper and they put on another 40 before Cooper was caught and bowled by Mann for 46.

Ram Ramneth (16 not out) and Simon Green (57 not out) saw Hayes home in the 33rd over when the latter smashed Khan for 18 from five balls.

* The second XI was narrowly defeated away to high-flying Royal Ascot after posting a disappointing 171 all out in which Amin Muyassur top scored with 46. Despite a valiant attempt with the ball Hayes could not prevent the hosts passing the total off the last ball of the match with seven wickets down.

* Sumner (33), Smith (27) and Chauhan (35) helped the thirds to 171 for nine in a 35-over match at Guildford side Blackheath and the wickets were shared around as the hosts only managed 110 all out in response.