BEN Clarke top scored with 38 for Royal Ascot 3rds, but they were beaten by five wickets at home to Reading 3rds in Division 6b, writes Richard Ashton.

The hosts were bowled out for 151, and Mark Spruyt (46no) and Chris Reynard (44) led Reading to victory in a pedestrian 50.1 overs.

Kyle Bradley’s 36 helped Hurst 2nds to 182-8 against Aldershot 3rds (168), and Ian Harvey then took 5-40 to inspire his team to a dramatic 14-run success.

Wokingham moved 28 points clear at the top of Division One with an emphatic eight-wicket triumph against Henley 2nds.

Mikey Williams made 78 for the visitors, but they were restricted to 193-9 as Jarrett Bobb took 4-54.

Two Zac Jones wickets left the Oaks 56-2 in reply, but masterful knocks from Dan Housego (89no) and Archie Carter (68no) guided Wokingham to victory.

Stuart Hayter’s men travel to Marlow on Saturday (1pm).

Eversley dropped to sixth in Division 2a after they had to hang on for a draw at Hayes.

Mrunal Sawant smashed a sensational 198 and Gagan Sharma chipped in with 58 as the hosts crashed 299-5 before declaring in the 50th over, Andrew Niblett (6-57) the pick of the attack.

The Boars were never truly in the run chase, and only a determined 92 not out from opener Jack Frod secured them a share of the spoils on 151-9.

Eversley host Maidenhead & Bray on Saturday (1pm).

In Division 2b, Hurst had the better of their draw at home to Yateley.

Usman Ijaz scored 59 and openers Alex Kayser and Sam Hawkes both totalled 40 in Hurst’s 207-7, and Phil Higgs then bagged 6-68 from a marathon 24-over spell as the visitors limped to 171-9.

Hurst visit Slough 2nds this Saturday (1pm).

Ollie Dunnett starred with 5-48 as Royal Ascot climbed to sixth with a three-wicket success against Beaconsfield.

The visitors were bowled out for 186, and Nick Sweetman (60) and Andy Murray (49) led the charge as Ascot reached their target in 48.4 overs.

Royal Ascot travel to Sonning on Saturday (1pm).

Rock bottom Eversley 2nds (116) were thrashed by seven wickets at home to NPL (122-3)in Division 4a.

Royal Ascot 2nds (185) lost to Beaconsfield 2nds (186-4) by six wickets.

Akmal Sultan (6-36) and Peter Henly (3-6) decimated the Chiswick & Whitton 2nds (140) batting line-up as Bracknell (144-4) eased to a six-wicket Division 5b clash. Imran Raja (47) and Rashid Afridi (45) ensured the run chase went smoothly.

Bracknell visit Boyne Hill 2nds on Saturday (1pm).

Tom Barker (5-30) and Martin Wilson (3-13) did the damage for Wokingham 3rds (225) as they thumped Slough 4ths (81) by 144 runs.

In Division 7a, Eversley 3rds (109) were thumped by Newbury 2nds (110-1), Mike Beaumont making 67 not out for the winners. Bracknell 2nds (78) were crushed by six wickets at Theale & Tilehurst 2nds (80-4).

David Bishop recorded stunning figures of 7-27 as Wokingham 4ths (127-2) cruised to an eight-wicket success against Maidenhead & Bray 3rds (123). Callum Creighton smashed 68 not out for 62 balls in the reply.

In Division 8a, Royal Ascot 4ths (287-5 declared in 38 overs) destroyed Reading 4ths (164) by 123 runs on the back of Tom Clarke’s unbeaten 132.

Eversley 4ths (122) beat Kidmore End 3rds (104) by 18 runs in Division 9a, while Atharva Patil’s 48 helped Wokingham 5ths (185) beat Wargrave 3rds (168) by 17 runs.