TITLE-CHASING Sulhamstead avoided a shock as they snatched a nervy one-wicket win at Sandhurst.

The hosts suffered an early blow after being asked to bat as captain Adam Birch was caught by counterpart Matt Gill off the bowling of Ian Williams.

Sumit Malla and Dan Bird (40) rebuilt the innings by adding 60 for the second wicket, but the rest of the Camels’ batting line-up failed to fire as they were shot out for 122.

Paceman Craig Palmer (5-27) and off spinner Marc Thompson (4-30) were the destroyers-in-chief for Sully.

The visitors also lost an early wicket as Steve Belcher was trapped lbw by Bird, but Thompson (30) completed a good all-round performance to put his side in charge.

The Sulhamstead middle and lower order failed to match his efforts, though, and they fell to 119-9 before Sanjay Dove and the veteran Williams took them over the line.

Alex Sykes starred with bat and ball as leaders Crowthorne & Crown Wood beat struggling Mortimer West End by 55 runs.

He top scored with 58 as the Crows posted 207-9, despite the best efforts of Hugh Patrick (3-54).

West End struggled against the left-arm pace of Ashley Fowles (5-46) in reply, and with Sykes (3-25) also impressing, they were bowled out for 152.

Another Dan Hayden masterclass helped Peppard Stoke Row to a winning draw at home to West Reading.

PSR slipped to 31-3 before the prolific Andy Watts (90) and the in-form Hayden (119) put on 204 for the fourth wicket, the hosts eventually closing on 242-5.

In reply, Adam Davidson (74no) batted through the innings and despite Dion Sampson (4-54), David Williams (2-46) and Ian Jackson – who took his 500th league wicket in a spell of 2-48 – all bowling well, PSR could not dismiss the visitors, who reached 221-9.

Zubair Khan (4-27) inspired relegation-threatened BCS Grosvenor to an emphatic nine-wicket win at Woodcote.

The home side were shot out for just 71, and BCS knocked the runs off in just 11.5 overs.

Woodley had the better of their draw at Ruislip Victoria.

Richard Stanley (49no), Naveed Ashgar (46no) and Atif Asif (44) helped Woodley to 239-7, but Ruislip looked set for victory as they reached 188-2 thanks to Naveed Mann (106) and Ilija Krunic (62).

However, Faisal Ahmed (4-22) and Ashgar (3-21) ripped through the middle order, and Woodley eventually closed on 227-9.

TITLE-CHASING Sulhamstead avoided a shock as they snatched a nervy one-wicket win at Sandhurst.

The hosts suffered an early blow after being asked to bat as captain Adam Birch was caught by counterpart Matt Gill off the bowling of Ian Williams.

Sumit Malla and Dan Bird (40) rebuilt the innings by adding 60 for the second wicket, but the rest of the Camels’ batting line-up failed to fire as they were shot out for 122.

Paceman Craig Palmer (5-27) and off spinner Marc Thompson (4-30) were the destroyers-in-chief for Sully.

The visitors also lost an early wicket as Steve Belcher was trapped lbw by Bird, but Thompson (30) completed a good all-round performance to put his side in charge.

The Sulhamstead middle and lower order failed to match his efforts, though, and they fell to 119-9 before Sanjay Dove and the veteran Williams took them over the line.

Alex Sykes starred with bat and ball as leaders Crowthorne & Crown Wood beat struggling Mortimer West End by 55 runs.

He top scored with 58 as the Crows posted 207-9, despite the best efforts of Hugh Patrick (3-54).

West End struggled against the left-arm pace of Ashley Fowles (5-46) in reply, and with Sykes (3-25) also impressing, they were bowled out for 152.

Another Dan Hayden masterclass helped Peppard Stoke Row to a winning draw at home to West Reading.

PSR slipped to 31-3 before the prolific Andy Watts (90) and the in-form Hayden (119) put on 204 for the fourth wicket, the hosts eventually closing on 242-5.

In reply, Adam Davidson (74no) batted through the innings and despite Dion Sampson (4-54), David Williams (2-46) and Ian Jackson – who took his 500th league wicket in a spell of 2-48 – all bowling well, PSR could not dismiss the visitors, who reached 221-9.

Zubair Khan (4-27) inspired relegation-threatened BCS Grosvenor to an emphatic nine-wicket win at Woodcote.

The home side were shot out for just 71, and BCS knocked the runs off in just 11.5 overs.

Woodley had the better of their draw at Ruislip Victoria.

Richard Stanley (49no), Naveed Ashgar (46no) and Atif Asif (44) helped Woodley to 239-7, but Ruislip looked set for victory as they reached 188-2 thanks to Naveed Mann (106) and Ilija Krunic (62).

However, Faisal Ahmed (4-22) and Ashgar (3-21) ripped through the middle order, and Woodley eventually closed on 227-9.

<strong>Division One</strong> BASEMENT boys Peppard Stoke Row 2nds ended Emmbrook & Bearwood’s 100% record by hanging on for a losing draw.

Matt Smart (100) made his maiden century and Andy Webb (65) was also among the runs as Emmbrook rattled up a huge 319-6 in 42 overs, but solid knocks from Sam Fooks (53no) and Nick Windsor (41) steered PSR to safety on 240-7.

Nikhil Kulkarni (76) impressed for Goring-on-Thames as they thrashed Stratfield Turgis by 163 runs.

Youngster Owyn Tong-Jones (46) also made useful runs as the visitors amassed a huge 320-8, and Kulkarni (4-14) then showed his bowling skills as Stratfield were bowled out for 157.

West Reading 2nds secured a winning draw against struggling Ibis Mapledurham.

Usman Ali (53) and Yaunas Khan (44) led the way as Wests racked up 222, with Ankit Singh (3-24) and Luke Whiley (3-47) the pick of the attack.

In reply, Ibis held on for the draw by reaching 186-9, Wasim Akram (4-57) the chief destroyer for West Reading.

Father and son duo Ian and Will Herrington inspired Welford Park to a four-wicket win at home to Bradfield.

Opener Paul Armstrong smashed a quickfire 51 from just 44 balls as the visitors started well, but the introduction of the spinners stemmed the flow of runs.

Ian Herrington (3-41) was well back up by Will (3-20) as Bradfield reached 192-9 from their 45 overs.

Useful contributions throughout the Park order – led by Will Herrington’s powerful 48 from 36 balls – ensured they reached their target with more than seven overs to spare.

<strong>Division Two</strong> HAWLEY moved to the top of the table following a 166-run destruction of visitors Sandhurst 2nds.

Gavin Sinclair (64), skipper Mike Hartley (57) and Swaroop Panigrahi (55no) were all among the runs as Hawley totalled 250-6, and Sinclair’s stunning spell of 6-29 then helped skittle the Camels for 84.

Farley Hill’s promotion hopes suffered a setback as they could only salvage a losing draw at Sulhamstead 2nds.

Jason Doole (105no) and Phil Walden (73) gave Sully the perfect start as they put on 98 for the first wicket, before James Williams (97no) also showed his class in taking the hosts to an impressive 295-1.

Farley Hill never looked like getting the runs, but they were also never in any real danger of losing thanks to fine innings from Simon Longfield (70) and Trevor Clacey (53). Nabeel Mughal (3-29) was the pick of the Sulhamstead bowlers.

Stratfield Turgis 2nds secured a winning draw in a thrilling contest at Shinfield.

Manoj George made an excellent 68 not out as the visitors scored 257-6, but Jamie Farrow (63) and Shashank Garg (47) nearly got their side across the winning line, only for Shinfield to end on 254-9.

Bottom side Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2nds recorded just a second win of the season as they overcame BCS Grosvenor 2nds by five wickets.

Dan Crinnion (4-28) and Dan Finucane (3-51) made early inroads after BCS chose to bat, but an excellent 57 from captain Babar Butt steered the hosts to 167.

However, that total proved insufficient as Australian youngster Joe Davies made an unbeaten 52 in leading his side to victory.

A brilliant captain’s innings from Earley’s Owen Bye helped his team to a thrilling one-wicket win at Mortimer West End 2nds.

Manish Garg (59) top scored for West End as they posted 236-9, despite Lee Linnett taking 4-32.

Bye (101) led from the front in reply, and with Curt Watts (44) also batting well, Earley squeezed to victory thanks to Rob Lean’s unbeaten 33.

Kamal Gupta (3-40) and Chander Prakash (3-54) were the pick of the MWE bowlers.

<strong>Division Three</strong> WARFIELD suffered a first defeat of the season as they fell to a four-wicket reverse at Woodley 2nds.

John Curran (63) top scored for Warfield, but they were bowled out for 200 as Vickil D’souza (5-29) impressed with the ball.

In reply, Kunal Sharma (68no) and Emad Khan (43) ensured a smooth passage to victory for Woodley despite Riyas Rajab’s 4-30.

Waltham St Lawrence closed the gap at the top with a four-wicket win at Purley-on-Thames 3rds.

Gavin Raw (41) led the way for the Potters but Siva Kumar (4-38) and Chris England (3-28) helped dismiss the hosts for 200.

In reply, Saints opener Andrew Hartland (46) impressed as his side won with eight balls to spare.

Sulhamstead 3rds secured back-to-back wins with a 25-run triumph at home to Welford Park 2nds.

Babu Loganathan (54), Shiva Aruna (50) and Rameshkumar Ramasamy (44no) guided Sully to a useful 227-9, and despite Abhishek Chatterjee’s 66, Welford were dismissed for 202 in reply.

Ramasamy (5-27) and Aruna (3-41) capped fine displays by taking the majority of the wickets.

Tony Stott and Dave Gordon starred as Knowl Hill thumped Falkland Development by eight wickets.

Stott (5-18) helped skittle the visitors for 94, before Gordon’s unbeaten 42-ball 51 saw Hill race to success.

Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nds snatched a nail-biting one-wicket success at Twyford & Ruscombe.

Ken Cochrane (68) and Spence Nichols (40) took Twyford to 174, while Mark Van Nieuwenhuzen took 4-40 for Emmbrook.

The reply ebbed and flowed with opener Matt Robertson (74) putting the visitors in control, only for a collapse to leave last pair Mark Cobb and Van Nieuwenhuzen to complete the job.

<strong>Division Four</strong> A MAGNIFICENT 134 by Mikey Hennessy helped Peppard Stoke Row 3rds to the better of a draw with basement side Emmbrook & Bearwood 3rds.

PSR racked up 284-4 in 41.5 overs, but captain Brian Swindley (53no) ensured the visitors reached 149-7 in reply.

Shinfield 2nds leapfrogged Bradfield 2nds into second after humbling their opponents by 170 runs.

Hassan Safdar made 67 in Shinfield’s total of 201-8, and Rehaan Samdani (5-8) then proved too good as Bradfield were shot out for a mere 31.

Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds stunned leaders Ruislip Victoria 2nds with a nine-run win in a high-scoring classic.

Nick Outram (114) and Suraj Puttige (53) led the Crows to 286-9 in 37.4 overs, but RV put up a fantastic effort in the chase.

Neil Booth (100no) and Terike Mitchell (53) starred with the bat, but they could not quite get over the line, John Cartledge (4-52) ensuring the Middlesex side were all out for 277.

West Reading 3rds earned a winning draw at Waltham St Lawrence 2nds.

Osman Mahmood (107no) top scored as Wests made 224-7, but Wasim Javed’s 77 steered the Saints to safety on 215-8.