READING ended a run of seven straight defeats and their 10th in 11 HCPL Division Two games when holding out for a draw at Amersham on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

In a rain-affected match, the hosts declared on 181-6 after 33 overs, while Reading replied with a modest 90-4 from 38 overs.

Robert Viney led the Amersham run charge with an unbeaten 61 at a run a ball.

Bruce Friderichs hit 34, while there were also aggressive strokes from Ed Bowcock, Callum Tilbury, both with 21, and Sam Helm, 20 not out.

Pick of the Reading bowlers was Phil Brennan, who took 3-35 off 11 overs. Skipper Firaz Amjad captured 2-16 off two overs and Ollie Williams 1-39.

But Reading were penalised a point for their slow over rate, making it three points in two successive games.

The visitors’ batsmen also didn’t seem in much of a hurry, with Qasim Ali taking 97 balls to make 37 and Asim Zaka scoring 22 not out off 67 balls.

At least, Reading held out comfortably for a draw, taking their points tally for the season to 42.

This leaves the bottom club 18 points adrift of the side immediately above them, Great Brickhill, who have an identical record of no wins, a draw and a no result from 11 games.

When they met earlier in the season, the game was abandoned due to rain with Reading on 10-0 in the second over, having earlier dismissed their opponents for 148.

It was quite a day for Reading’s three Thames Valley League sides as they all won.

Their best performer of the day was Dan Katuri in the 2nds, who took 7-43 off 17 overs to dismiss Division 4a rivals Beaconsfield 2nds for just 104 in 41 overs.

Shreyas Narayanasamy took 2-9 off his six overs.

Reading reached their target after 25 overs for the loss of four wickets, with Khurram Mahmood making 38 and Rahul Bharti 32.

In Division 6b, Reading 3rds beat Yateley 3rds by five wickets.

Chris Dishington (4-26), Chris Reynard (3-3) and Ollie Waterhouse (3-18) skittled the visitors for 73 in 29 overs before Vishaal Kumar (27) and Dilpreet Dhillon (26) helped their side reach 75-5 off 26.6 overs.

Reading 4ths won by the same margin at Hayes 4ths in Division 8a – their first victory of the season.

They bowled out their hosts for 157 in 38 overs with Julian Wood taking four wickets, all bowled, at a personal cost of two runs, while son Hayden captured 3-39.

The side went on to make 161-5 in 31.2 overs after a second-wicket stand of 100 between Awad Naqvi (57) and Stuart Moulds (41).

This Saturday, Reading 2nds visit Eversley 2nds, the 3rds go to Finchampstead 4ths and the 4ths hosts Kew 4ths.