KIDMORE End Academy will take on Friends XI in the final of the Reading Midweek League’s Keith Mitchell Memorial Cup next Thursday, writes Richard Ashton.

Kidmore (94-5) took their place in the fixture they will host by beating Purley-on-Thames (93) by five wickets, while Harry Spear took 4-34 for Friends XI (113-8) in their 23-run success against West Reading (90).

Friends (96-4) had previously knocked out Shinfield (92-8) in the quarter finals, while Kidmore were given a walkover by Reading East.

In the other two quarter finals, West Reading (111-6) beat Mortimer by 39 runs, and Purley (140-6) beat Hutchison 3 (97) by 43 runs.

West Reading moved top of Division One with a 50-run success against nearest rivals Sulhamstead on Tuesday.

The second-placed side had previously been in good form as they won two matches last week.

Sulhamstead (148-4) firstly beat Friends XI (124-7) by 24 runs, and then scored 156-3 to beat Shinfield (142) by 14 runs, despite Suneet Basra making a brilliant 82 for the beaten side.

Friends XI (126-5) are third following a 25-run win against Shinfield (101-6) in which Pete Dickenson took 4-36 for the victors.

Kidmore End Academy are rooted to the foot of the table having conceded games to Sulhamstead, West Reading and Royal Mail in the past fortnight.

In Division Two, Purley-on-Thames lead the way after recording a brace of wins.

The Potters (154-9) were boosted by Chris Priestley’s 35 as they beat Amec Foster Wheeler (75) by 79 runs, James Measham (3-6) and George Wheeler (3-18) the destroyers-in-chief.

Purley (103-4) then ended second-placed Racal’s (101-6) unbeaten run, although they bounced back to winning ways after scoring 145-6 in a 79-run thumping of Warfield (66-8). Rob Dyer returned remarkable figures of 2-7 in his three eight-ball overs, while Roy Hayden took 2-18.

Warfield (103-5) had previously benefitted from Dan Torry’s 33 in their 34-run win against Hutchison 3 (69-5), while Rob Dimmack smashed 109 for Mortimer (194-4) in an 84-run victory against Amec Foster Wheeler.

In Division Three, Verizon (130-7) beat Shinfield 2nds (106-6) by 24 runs, and have a perfect record from eight games after Masstor conceded their scheduled fixture.

Microsoft (174-3) are in second place after a 45-run win against Shinfield 2nds (129-6).