SECOND-PLACED Hurst survived a late batting collapse to salvage a draw at home to Slough 2nds in Division 2b.

The visitors chose to bat and openers Ali Ahmed (45) and Faisal Khan looked in supreme touch, putting on 138 for the first wicket before the former was caught by Andrew Cording off the bowling of left-arm spinner Lewis Smith.

However, Khan continued to produce a masterclass, passing his century and going on to score a magnificent 168 which included 33 4s and one 6.

Without that innings Slough would have been in trouble, as of the remaining batsmen only Gheyas Khan made double figures.

The Hurst fightback was led by spinners Smith (3-79) and Phil Higgs (3-74), while Andrew Ruddock also claimed 3-19 as Slough closed their 52 overs on 268-9.

The hosts made a steady if somewhat slow start as openers Smith (33) and Max Carroll (37) shared 73 before the latter was dismissed by man-of-the-match Khan.

However, after reaching a strong position on 136-2, Hurst suffered a worrying collapse and were eventually indebted to another superb innings from Greg Smith (72 from 52 balls) to guide them to safety on 186-9.

Hurst face a trip to top-of-the-table Boyne Hill this coming Saturday (1pm).

Wargrave climbed off the foot of the table with a stunning five-wicket win at Henley 2nds.

The home side made a strong start after choosing to bat as Andy Harris and the hard-hitting Tom Oldershaw put on 90 before Mandip Sohi (3-28) trapped the former lbw.

The same bowler struck again with the score on 131 as he bowled Oldershaw for an impressive 82 from just 70 balls.

Alex Price and Euan Brock were both dismissed by Dan Davies (2-32), but Will Legg (48) steadied the ship as Henley were bowled out for 250. Berkshire all-rounder Euan Woods (2-74) and ex-Henley man Neal Robinson (2-36) also impressed with the ball.

Wargrave’s reply was a trial by spin as left armers Brock and Cameron Jacobsen bowled more than 34 overs in reply, initially reducing the visitors to 41-3.

However, Woods (82) and Robinson put on a match-winning 157 for the fourth wicket, and the latter completed a wonderful century before being trapped lbw by Jacobsen (2-62) for 102 with the scores level.

Nevertheless, Ricky Kniveton took Wargrave home with eight balls to spare, bringing up a century for Brock (3-100 in 19.1 overs) in the process.

Wargrave host Burnham 2nds on Saturday (1pm).

Hurst 2nds pulled off a sensational run chase as they secured a three-wicket success at Theale & Tilehurst 2nds in Division 6b.

Tim Everitt (3-44) made early inroads for Hurst, but they were then flayed to all parts during an outstanding innings of 158 not out by the prolific Mohammed Jamil.

He received useful support from the middle order and, aided by a late flourish from captain Brian Cooper (38no), T&T reached 308-6 in their 52 overs.

Ram Sankaran (4-68) accounted for skipper Tom Hibbs early on, and the visitors were wobbling when Cooper had Roy Head caught for four.

However, Jack Wrigley (87) and Luke Redman (70 from 49 balls) put their side back in the contest, and some excellent lower order contributions took Hurst to victory with an over to spare.

Scott Morton produced a magnificent spell to earn title-chasing Wargrave 2nds a dramatic 21-run win at home to Teddington Town 2nds.

Wargrave appeared in trouble after being bowled out for 146, but Morton’s wonderful 7-31 helped the hosts rout the Londoners for just 125.

In Division 9a, Wargrave 3rds enjoyed an outstanding afternoon as they thrashed Wokingham 3rds by six wickets.

Jake Staples (25no) was the only player to reach double figures as the Oaks were blown away for just 61, Kevin Rapley taking 5-12.

Richard Draper (2-14) and talented youngster Callum Creighton (2-14) made early inroads to give Wokingham a glimmer of hope, but that was swiftly extinguised as Phil Drew’s 31 not out guided Wargrave home.

SECOND-PLACED Hurst survived a late batting collapse to salvage a draw at home to Slough 2nds in Division 2b.

The visitors chose to bat and openers Ali Ahmed (45) and Faisal Khan looked in supreme touch, putting on 138 for the first wicket before the former was caught by Andrew Cording off the bowling of left-arm spinner Lewis Smith.

However, Khan continued to produce a masterclass, passing his century and going on to score a magnificent 168 which included 33 4s and one 6.

Without that innings Slough would have been in trouble, as of the remaining batsmen only Gheyas Khan made double figures.

The Hurst fightback was led by spinners Smith (3-79) and Phil Higgs (3-74), while Andrew Ruddock also claimed 3-19 as Slough closed their 52 overs on 268-9.

The hosts made a steady if somewhat slow start as openers Smith (33) and Max Carroll (37) shared 73 before the latter was dismissed by man-of-the-match Khan.

However, after reaching a strong position on 136-2, Hurst suffered a worrying collapse and were eventually indebted to another superb innings from Greg Smith (72 from 52 balls) to guide them to safety on 186-9.

Hurst face a trip to top-of-the-table Boyne Hill this coming Saturday (1pm).

Wargrave climbed off the foot of the table with a stunning five-wicket win at Henley 2nds.

The home side made a strong start after choosing to bat as Andy Harris and the hard-hitting Tom Oldershaw put on 90 before Mandip Sohi (3-28) trapped the former lbw.

The same bowler struck again with the score on 131 as he bowled Oldershaw for an impressive 82 from just 70 balls.

Alex Price and Euan Brock were both dismissed by Dan Davies (2-32), but Will Legg (48) steadied the ship as Henley were bowled out for 250. Berkshire all-rounder Euan Woods (2-74) and ex-Henley man Neal Robinson (2-36) also impressed with the ball.

Wargrave’s reply was a trial by spin as left armers Brock and Cameron Jacobsen bowled more than 34 overs in reply, initially reducing the visitors to 41-3.

However, Woods (82) and Robinson put on a match-winning 157 for the fourth wicket, and the latter completed a wonderful century before being trapped lbw by Jacobsen (2-62) for 102 with the scores level.

Nevertheless, Ricky Kniveton took Wargrave home with eight balls to spare, bringing up a century for Brock (3-100 in 19.1 overs) in the process.

Wargrave host Burnham 2nds on Saturday (1pm).

Hurst 2nds pulled off a sensational run chase as they secured a three-wicket success at Theale & Tilehurst 2nds in Division 6b.

Tim Everitt (3-44) made early inroads for Hurst, but they were then flayed to all parts during an outstanding innings of 158 not out by the prolific Mohammed Jamil.

He received useful support from the middle order and, aided by a late flourish from captain Brian Cooper (38no), T&T reached 308-6 in their 52 overs.

Ram Sankaran (4-68) accounted for skipper Tom Hibbs early on, and the visitors were wobbling when Cooper had Roy Head caught for four.

However, Jack Wrigley (87) and Luke Redman (70 from 49 balls) put their side back in the contest, and some excellent lower order contributions took Hurst to victory with an over to spare.

Scott Morton produced a magnificent spell to earn title-chasing Wargrave 2nds a dramatic 21-run win at home to Teddington Town 2nds.

Wargrave appeared in trouble after being bowled out for 146, but Morton’s wonderful 7-31 helped the hosts rout the Londoners for just 125.

In Division 9a, Wargrave 3rds enjoyed an outstanding afternoon as they thrashed Wokingham 3rds by six wickets.

Jake Staples (25no) was the only player to reach double figures as the Oaks were blown away for just 61, Kevin Rapley taking 5-12.

Richard Draper (2-14) and talented youngster Callum Creighton (2-14) made early inroads to give Wokingham a glimmer of hope, but that was swiftly extinguised as Phil Drew’s 31 not out guided Wargrave home.

<strong>Kidmore End</strong> AN excellent innings from Guy Ashby helped Kidmore End to an important six-wicket win at home to table-toppers Windsor in Division 2a.

Defeat for The End would have left their promotion hopes in serious peril, but they put in an outstanding display to seal a deserved victory.

Windsor chose to bat first but found the going tough, Adam Allen-Turner’s 52 the only innings of note as they were bowled out for 161.

That target never looked like being enough as Ashby’s 59 not out steered his side to victory in the 36th over.

Third-placed Kidmore are now just 25 points behind their opponents and travel to British Airways this coming Saturday (1pm).

In Division 7b, Ryan Latter continued his amazing season with the ball to help Kidmore End 2nds to a seven-wicket trouncing of Hayes 3rds.

Latter (5-31) and Ben Berryman (5-15) ripped through the hosts line-up to rout them for just 56, and Kidmore cruised to victory.

Kidmore End 3rds enjoyed an emphatic 134-run victory against table-topping Datchet Cranbourne 2nds in Division 9a.

Mohammed Shamil led the way for the hosts as they scored 212-9 in their 47 overs, and that proved far too many for the visitors as they were knocked over for just 88.

<strong>Theale & Tilehurst</strong> RUN machine Ben Saville scored another fabulous hundred as table-topping Eversley 2nds continued their bid for the Division 4b title with a 33-run win at home to fellow high-flyers Theale & Tilehurst.

The opener made a majestic 103 and Mike Judd also scored a brilliant 102 as the Boars totalled 259-8, and off spinner Chris Last then toiled away to take 5-61 as T&T were dismissed for 226. Michael Holder top scored for the visitors with 59.

Theale & Tilehurst host Stoke Green on Saturday (1pm).

Eversley 4ths found the going tougher at home to Theale & Tilehurst 3rds in Division 8a, eventually falling to a 43-run reverse.

Tony Critchley (2-37) bowled well for the Boars, but the star of the show was Under 15 Ben Martin (5-55), who took his maiden senior five-wicket haul as T&T were bowled out for 204.

The Boars endured a catastrophic start as they crashed to 7-3 in the face of some fine bowling from Mark Mason and Matthew Hearn-Philips.

Richard Ford (43) helped steady proceedings before an outstanding display of hard-hitting by Jimmy Forsyth – whose 68 included seven 6s – put Eversley in with a shout.

However, his departure on 128 was followed by Ford’s to make it 149-6, and the tail was blown away as Eversley collapsed to 161 all out, Mason taking 6-76.

<strong>Purley-on-Thames</strong> PURLEY continued their recent improvement and climbed into mid-table on the back of an excellent 46-run win at home to Fleet in Division 3a.

The Potters endured a tricky start and lost Dan Clark early on, but useful innings from Will Dethridge (38), Patrick Allen (pictured right), who made 30, and Richard Sandford (28) helped take their side to 189 all out.

Caleb Maycock (3-28) again bowled well in the reply, and with Rahu Thava (2-20) and Robbie Jeffery (2-37) also among the wickets, the visitors were dismissed for 142.

Purley travel to Finchampstead 3rds this coming Saturday (1pm).

In Division 5b, Purley-on-Thames 2nds’ season of woe offered a rare glimmer of hope as they held on to secure a draw at second bottom Falkland 3rds.

The home side racked up an impressive 235-6, declaring after 50 overs, but Peter Rackley made an unbeaten 72 to help the Potters end on 225-7.

The result was Purley’s second draw in 10 games, with the other eight having been defeats.

<strong>Sonning</strong> SONNING were knocked off the top of the Thames Valley League Division 3b table after they crashed to a disappointing seven-wicket defeat at Farnham Royal.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat, but it proved a misguided decision as they struggled from the off and were eventually dismissed for an under-par 151.

Chris Shave (5-67 off 19 overs) was the pick of the Farnham Royal attack, although he received good support from Atif Khan (2-12) and Matt Shave (2-36).

The hosts’ reply started poorly as Khan was castled for 1, but Shave and Nigel Field (50no) steadied the ship.

And although Shave and Bradley Rylance were dismissed, Jack Barton’s hard-hitting 63 not out – which included two 6s – helped his side to victory in the 40th over.

Second-placed Sonning now trail Reading 2nds by four points, and host Wooburn Narvokians on Saturday (1pm).

In Division 5b, struggling Sonning 2nds suffered a sixth defeat in seven games as they crashed to a three-wicket defeat at home to Slough 3rds.

The hosts elected to bat at Pound Lane, and were able to amass a strong total of 254-9 on the back of fine knocks from Mark Richards (62), Khuram Akram (61) and Saad Raqeeb (57), while they were also aided by Slough donating a generous 32 extras.

However, on a good batting track, Slough played their shots from the off and were able to cross the winning line after just 42 overs.

Indeveer Sahota (2-25) and Kevan Smith (2-52) were the most successful bowlers for Sonning, who remain third bottom and just 11 points above the bottom two.

Sonning 3rds bounced back to winning ways and remain firmly in the Division 9a title race after hammering Thatcham Town 4ths by 77 runs.

Ali Driver led the way with 70 not out for Sonning, and he received useful support from Ahsan Hameed (30), Ben Morris (23no), Vivek Vasist (24) and Naqash Tahir (23) as the visitors totalled 229-6.

Tahir (5-10) then starred with the ball, and with Waqas Tahir (2-44) and Aamir Tahir (2-13) also excelling, Thatcham were dismissed for 152.

The victory helped Sonning close the gap to leaders Datchet Cranbourne 2nds – the only side to have beaten them this season – to just five points.