Pip France’s excellent bowling display and Mark Eteen’s unbeaten century guided Chesham to a convincing eight-wicket thumping of Windsor on Saturday.

The victory keeps Chesham in the hunt for the Thames Valley Cricket League Division One title and they remain in second place.

The imposing win looked some way off after Windsor had made a quick start and raced to 60 without loss.

However, the introduction of France and fellow spinner Umar Aslam (3-72) soon changed the tide of the game in Chesham’s favour.

France was particularly potent and finished with figures of 5-54 as he and Aslam ripped through their opponents order.

Other than openers Justin Grainger (38) and James Hawkes (31), only Adam Weston (36) and Ollie Jordan (35) put up any sort of defence.

They were desperately lacking in partners though and a number of cheap wickets ultimately undermined their batting effort.

The visitors battled on through the bowling onslaught and managed to drag themselves to 188 all out from 51.3 overs.

France and Aslam’s dominance saw them bowl 22 overs each as the remainder of the Chesham bowlers took a back seat.

Title chasing Chesham were in no mood to hang around in their response, but soon lost Matt Rance with the score on 27.

His departure brought Eteen to the crease and he took the game to the Windsor attack with some excellent stroke play.

He would go on to make 114 from just 98 balls in an innings which included 12 fours and four sixes.

Eteen was not alone in showing his class with the bat and Luke Webb played delightfully for his 46 not out as the pair took Chesham to their target.

There was limited joy for Windsor in the field and only Grainger (1-27) and Thomas Hartridge (1-37) were rewarded with a wicket.

With title rivals Stoke Green playing third place Wokingham in their next game, Chesham will view a match against relegation threatened Kew as the ideal chance to make up ground on the leaders.