KHALID ‘Bobby’ Malik spun Reading to a surprise ​but thoroughly deserved 19-run win over Home Counties Premier League Division One leaders Henley at Sonning Lane on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Reading were restricted to a total of 220-7 in their 64 overs, with Gurveer ‘Monty’ Singh taking five wickets.

But that modest total still proved enough with the reigning champions crashing from 111-2 to 201 all out.

Malik took five wickets after using three different balls during the game, with two being lost in the Sonning Lane hedges as the Henley batsmen blasted shots to the boundary and beyond.

The offspinner said the first ball he used ​“​turned a bit,” the first replacement ​“​not ​nearly as much,” but the ​third ball used “turned the most” as the wicket ​started to break up.

Malik finished with superb figures of 5-70 in a marathon shift of 21 overs – but this was far from being a one-man show.

It was by far Reading’s best team performance of the season, ​as they had previously been well beaten by the ​usual top four clubs – Henley, High Wycombe, Banbury and Slough – and came just two weeks after they had been skittled out for 40 at Banbury.

Yet it came on a day when they ​ were missing Jack Beaven, Sukhi Kang and Curran Gaur from their regular 12-man squad, which led to second team players Phil Brennan, aged 19, and 21-year-old Firaz Amjad ​being called up for their Division One debuts.​ Opener Tom Fray top scored with 65 – having only managed ​the same number of runs in his previous six 1st XI appearances.

He played a pivotal role against the strong Henley attack, facing 125 balls and occupying the crease for 152 ​ minutes​ before spooning a catch to David Barnes at mid-on off the bowling of Singh.

Martin Andersson contributed 49 off 64 balls, but a middle-order collapse saw Reading slump to 162-7.

However, Amjad, with 27 not out, and Ian Slatcher, with 29, added 58 runs in an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership that was to eventually prove the difference between defeat and victory.

Skipper David Hartley was delighted that other batsmen are now making useful contributions to the team rather than having to rely on Praful Waghela each week.

The Indian, back in an opening role, made 19 before being trapped lbw by Tahir Afridi to a ball that he thought was going down the leg side before cutting back in.

“Tom and Martin both batted superbly and it is pleasing to see other batsmen showing more responsibility, as we cannot expect Praful to come up with a big score each week,” said Hartley.

​ “​Slatch and Firaz also did well at the end of the innings.” But with a modest 220 on the board, it didn’t look quite enough as Henley went in search of their ninth win in 10 games.

Reading opened their attack with Slatcher and Andersson, but soon turned to spin and Malik dismissed both openers, Barnes for 18 and Michael Roberts for 22 thanks to catches by Slatcher and Kashif Nasim respectively.

Cornwall county star Matt Rowe and Ziafat Ashraf lifted the total to 111 before Andersson, back for a second spell, had Rowe caught by Amjad when just one short of his half-century, and shortly afterwards Ashraf was run out for 19 by Waghela.

​Slip fielder Waghela then caught Bjorn Mordt for one off the bowling of Andersson, and Reading now had their tails up, even more so when Malik dismissed Aussie James Bazley for 18 and had Stewart Davison​ lbw​ for two.

Henley boast batting in depth and Minor County players Matt Carter and Afridi produced a partnership ​of 39 to keep the visitors in contention ​ at 184-7​, although they still needed to score at seven runs an over in the last 11.

KHALID ‘Bobby’ Malik spun Reading to a surprise ​but thoroughly deserved 19-run win over Home Counties Premier League Division One leaders Henley at Sonning Lane on Saturday.

Put in to bat, Reading were restricted to a total of 220-7 in their 64 overs, with Gurveer ‘Monty’ Singh taking five wickets.

But that modest total still proved enough with the reigning champions crashing from 111-2 to 201 all out.

Malik took five wickets after using three different balls during the game, with two being lost in the Sonning Lane hedges as the Henley batsmen blasted shots to the boundary and beyond.

The offspinner said the first ball he used ​“​turned a bit,” the first replacement ​“​not ​nearly as much,” but the ​third ball used “turned the most” as the wicket ​started to break up.

Malik finished with superb figures of 5-70 in a marathon shift of 21 overs – but this was far from being a one-man show.

It was by far Reading’s best team performance of the season, ​as they had previously been well beaten by the ​usual top four clubs – Henley, High Wycombe, Banbury and Slough – and came just two weeks after they had been skittled out for 40 at Banbury.

Yet it came on a day when they ​ were missing Jack Beaven, Sukhi Kang and Curran Gaur from their regular 12-man squad, which led to second team players Phil Brennan, aged 19, and 21-year-old Firaz Amjad ​being called up for their Division One debuts.​ Opener Tom Fray top scored with 65 – having only managed ​the same number of runs in his previous six 1st XI appearances.

He played a pivotal role against the strong Henley attack, facing 125 balls and occupying the crease for 152 ​ minutes​ before spooning a catch to David Barnes at mid-on off the bowling of Singh.

Martin Andersson contributed 49 off 64 balls, but a middle-order collapse saw Reading slump to 162-7.

However, Amjad, with 27 not out, and Ian Slatcher, with 29, added 58 runs in an unbeaten eighth-wicket partnership that was to eventually prove the difference between defeat and victory.

Skipper David Hartley was delighted that other batsmen are now making useful contributions to the team rather than having to rely on Praful Waghela each week.

The Indian, back in an opening role, made 19 before being trapped lbw by Tahir Afridi to a ball that he thought was going down the leg side before cutting back in.

“Tom and Martin both batted superbly and it is pleasing to see other batsmen showing more responsibility, as we cannot expect Praful to come up with a big score each week,” said Hartley.

​ “​Slatch and Firaz also did well at the end of the innings.” But with a modest 220 on the board, it didn’t look quite enough as Henley went in search of their ninth win in 10 games.

Reading opened their attack with Slatcher and Andersson, but soon turned to spin and Malik dismissed both openers, Barnes for 18 and Michael Roberts for 22 thanks to catches by Slatcher and Kashif Nasim respectively.

Cornwall county star Matt Rowe and Ziafat Ashraf lifted the total to 111 before Andersson, back for a second spell, had Rowe caught by Amjad when just one short of his half-century, and shortly afterwards Ashraf was run out for 19 by Waghela.

​Slip fielder Waghela then caught Bjorn Mordt for one off the bowling of Andersson, and Reading now had their tails up, even more so when Malik dismissed Aussie James Bazley for 18 and had Stewart Davison​ lbw​ for two.

Henley boast batting in depth and Minor County players Matt Carter and Afridi produced a partnership ​of 39 to keep the visitors in contention ​ at 184-7​, although they still needed to score at seven runs an over in the last 11.

<strong>Reading 2nds</strong> PAV Chima hit a century to help take Reading 2nds to the top of the Thames Valley League’s Division 3b following a winning draw against Teddington Town.

His 106 saw Reading race to a very impressive total of 303-9 declared in their 46 overs. His runs came off just 101 balls, hitting a 6 and 19 fours in the process.

Khurram Mahmood made 41, Dani Katuri 38 and Rahul Bharti 36 for Reading, who were missing two regulars due to first-team call ups.

Teddington made a spirited reply, finishing on 262-9 with Shimir Patel scoring 122 off 93 deliveries with six 6s and 14 fours.

Pick of the bowlers was Qasim Ali with 4-89 off 19 overs.

The 15 points were enough to lift them above local rivals Sonning, who slumped to a seven-wicket defeat at the hands of Farnham Royal.

​ <strong>Reading 3rds</strong> SHREYAS Narayanasamy ​ claimed five wickets for the second week running as Reading 3rds defeated Aldershot 2nds by six wickets in Division 5b.

​The visitors won the toss and batted first at Sonning Lane. Reading bowled well to keep the run rate down while also taking their chances.

Aldershot finished on 186-9 off 52 overs with Narayanasamy taking 5-79.

The hosts made a solid start to their reply with Pranav Bharadawaj and Shiva Yadavalli putting on 50 for the first wicket.

They then lost four wickets quickly before Anwar Whight, with 56 not out, and Chris Reynard (43no) put on a partnership of 99 to win the game, reaching 188-4 in 46 overs.​ <strong>Reading 4ths</strong> ​ ​WITH captain ​Grant Benbow happy to take on the umpire’s duties, Wazir Khan responded to the extra responsibility of skipper by scoring a superb 143 for Reading 4ths in their draw with second-in-the-table Bagshot 3rd in Division 8a.

​Having been put in to bat, Reading posted their highest score of the season of 285-3 off 47 overs ​with Waqas Ahmed remaining unbeaten on 89.

Bagshot ​produced a spirited run chase in their 43 overs but could only reach 234-6 with James Balcombe scoring 105 and Ryan Funnell 77not out.

There were two wickets apiece for Jack Wright, Jay Blane and Simeon Farnworth.

Benbow said: “I have to say it was brilliant to see senior and junior players working together to prove what we can do.

“In the field stand-in Waz showed his extensive cricket knowledge by making some shrewd fielding changes to bring about some catches although their centurion had some luck on his side.” However, ​the tireless ​Malik had Carter caught by Fray for 41. Then Hartley bowled Afridi for 19 and the skipper wrapped up victory by​ trapp​ing Tom Nugent, who was celebrating his 21st birthday, ​lbw for five.

“Obviously, we were delighted to beat the league leaders and now we are looking to keep the momentum going,” said Hartley.

Reading are away to Burnham this Saturday (11am).