READING CC’s hopes of securing their first HCPL win of the season were dashed by the wet weather on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

They bowled out hosts Great Brickhill for 148 and had made 10 without loss in eight balls when rain brought a premature halt to a game they felt they were capable of winning.

The Milton Keynes side, promoted from the Cherwell League, owed much to two batsmen with opener Mark Nelson making 54 off 57 balls with one six and 10 fours and No. 7 John Iqbal 41 off 48 deliveries.

No-one else managed to reach double figures, so the team must have been appreciative of the extras column with Reading conceding 20 wides and three leg byes.

Skipper Firaz Amjad handed over the keeper’s gloves to Waqas Ahmed in order to bowl his spin, and he produced pleasing figures of 3-17 off seven overs.

He also took a catch and was responsible for a a run-out, while Ahmed claimed two catches and a stumping off Amjad.

Qasim Ali finished with 3-25 off 6.3, Anwar Whight 2-19 off five and Olly Williams 1-44 off six.

Reading made a bright start to their innings,with Jake Roberts finding the boundary twice in the first over in addition to running two singles with Qasim Ali.

But only two balls of the second over were possible before rain sent the players dashing back to the pavilion, and the game was eventually abandoned – much to Reading’s disappointment.

The Sonning Lane men move on to 14 points, two ahead of league tail-enders Great Brickhill.

This Saturday (11.30am) Reading are home to Shipton-under-Wychwood, another side still seeking their first win of the season.

In the Thames Valley League, Reading 2nds’ home fixture with Eversley 2nds and the 3rds game with Finchampstead 4ths both fell victim to the wet weather.

Reading 4ths must have wished their Division 8a game at Kew 4ths had also not taken place. They were blasted out for just 52 with only No. 9 Zishan Hussain, with 10, and the extras column (10) making it to double figures.

The damage was caused by Damian Judd with 5-18 off 10.3 overs and James Henderson 4-31 off 10.

Kew needed only 8.1 overs to reach their target for the loss of one wicket (Harmeet Sidhu 1-5) with Lewis Routledge unbeaten on 46.