SECOND-PLACED Eversley kept the pressure on table-topping Ickenham by easing to an eight-wicket home triumph against Kidmore End in Division 2a, writes Richard Ashton.

Australian Nick McGuane (4-33) was again the star of the show with the ball as the Boars held their visitors to 154-9 in 52 overs, and James Magowan (85) and skipper Tom Howorth (54no) then fired their side to 157-2 in just 24.4 overs for a comfortable win.

Victory leaves the Boars four points off top spot ahead of their trip to Windsor this coming Saturday.

Captain Lewis Smith (5-38) and fellow spinner Phil Higgs (4-33) combined to help Hurst (137-3) back up to second in Division 2b after their convincing seven-wicket triumph against Thatcham Town (136), Max Carroll making 41 in the run chase.

Hurst are at home to rock bottom Royal Ascot this Saturday, the cellar-dwellers having avoided defeat for the first time this season in their draw at Reading.

Sunny Jheeta (60) and Rahul Bharti (43) were among the runs as the hosts declared on 215-8 after 49 overs, Samm Daniel taking 5-70 for Ascot.

The visitors' reply never really got going as Bobby Malik took 5-51, but Nick Sweetman's 45 ensured they secured the draw on 131-6.

Kwame Appiah (78) and Sean Woodward (61) were in form with the bat for Finchampstead 2nds (221), but they went down to a three-wicket defeat against Fleet (224-7).

Division 3a leaders Binfield returned to winning ways, but were pushed very close by Purley on Thames before they sealed a one-wicket win.

Ian Goddard took 4-50 as the Potters were bowled out for 158, George Wheeler top scoring with 40, and despite Patrick Allen (3-46) and Andy Jackson (3-51) bowling well, Binfield reached 162-9 with 20 balls to spare.

Binfield visit Farnham Royal on Saturday.

Richard Reed (90) and Ian Rose (46) batted well for Finchampstead 3rds (227-8 declared after 50 overs) as they beat Slough 3rds (178) by 49 runs, Matt Harper (5-65) and Sam Taylor (3-63) starring with the ball for Finches.

Aditya Srinivasan (5-45) and Ajmal Safi (68no) were in fine form for Reading 2nds (107-2) as they beat rock bottom Bracknell (104) by eight wickets.

Bracknell host White Waltham on Saturday.

Harry Leach top scored with 69, but Division 5b leaders Eversley 2nds (182-9) lost for the first time tis season as they went down by eight wickets to Maidenhead & Bray 2nds (183-2).

Second-placed Binfield 2nds (242-5) cut the gap to six points after beating Falkland 3rds (240-7) by five wickets, Olly Nicholson continuing his superb form with 72 in the run chase.

Royal Ascot 2nds (156) remain in the relegation zone after losing by 75 runs to Henley 3rds (231-9 declared after 51 overs).

Doug McMurray made 55 as Finchampstead 4ths beat Hurst 2nds by 49 runs in Division 6b.

Andrew Cording's 5-79 was the stand-out Hurst bowling performance as Finches declared on 228-8 after 50 overs, and the hosts then removed their opponents for 179 on the back of Don Floyd's 4-51.

Tim Howson took 7-89 from a marathon 26 overs, but his Royal Ascot 3rds (184) side still went down to a 36-run reverse at Kidmore End 2nds (220), Umer Faroqi grabbing 7-70 for the hosts while Disney Abeyesekara (52) and Jacob Parry (51) both made half centuries for Ascot.

Division 8a table-toppers Eversley 3rds (220) completed a perfect first half of the season by making it nine wins from nine with a 92-run success at Bagshot 3rds (128).

Skipper Chris Chandler (16) was the only Bracknell 2nds player to reach double figures as they were pummelled by eight wickets at second-placed Bradfield 2nds.

Bracknell dropped to third-bottom after being skittled for just 56, with Bradfield taking only 12.2 overs to reach 57-2.

Royal Ascot 4ths remain second-bottom after losing by 20 runs to basement side Boyne Hill 4ths.

The hosts kept their opponents to 221-9 in their 40 overs, but despite Neal Feely (65) and John Dunnett (59) giving them a decent platform, Ascot could only reach 201-8 in their reply, Raghu Ramanujam taking 6-60.

In Division 9a, youngster Mark Dickin made his maiden Eversley 4ths century as the Boars cruised to an impressive nine-wicket success against Sonning 3rds.

Richard Anderson top scored with an unbeaten 65 for the home side as they posted 212-7, but Dickin (112no) and Siva Ampalam (62no) made light work of the target, Eversley reaching 218-1 with 25 balls to spare.