READING skipper David Hartley admitted he was left “very disappointed” following his side’s crushing 133-run defeat at Horspath.

His decision to put the home side into bat on a slightly damp wicket looked a good one when five wickets went down for just 51.

However, Horspath recovered well, made a brilliant recovery and scoring 101 runs in the final 10 overs to finish with a very respectable total of 234-6 off 50 overs.

It was the third highest score against them, but on both previous occasions Reading had gone on to win.

However, that never looked like happening on Saturday. Their batsmen had a bad day at the office and crashed to 101 all out.

“I’m certainly not happy with our performance,” said Hartley. “We are a far better side than this.

“In recent weeks we have shown we are a good side and we should have done that again here.

“We had them in trouble at 51-5 and we then dropped their skipper [Will Eason] just after he'd come in.”

It proved a costly miss in the slips, as it was Eason who sparked off his side’s spirited fightback.

Eason went on to make 51 off 82 balls and share a sixth-wicket stand of 105 with Shahbaz Ali. The latter remained unbeaten on 97 off 116 deliveries with five 6s and 10 4s.

Ali and Adam Price (34 not out off 17 balls) blasted 101 runs in the last 10 overs.

Pick of the Reading bowlers were Martin Andersson with 2-28 off 10 and Bobby Malik (1-28 off 10).

When they replied, the Reading innings never really got off the ground with Andersson (5) and Praful Waghela (0, second ball) both dismissed off the bowling of Eason in the same over.

There were whoops of joy when Waghela was caught at square leg, as the Indian had made 152 not out against them at Sonning Lane in June.

Reading never recovered from these cheap dismissals, with some poor shot decisions contributing to their own downfall.

There was some resistance from Bobby Malik, who scored 34 off 60 balls after occupying the crease for 73 minutes.

Only three others managed to reach double figures, with Sukhi Kang and Sunny Jheeta both making 12 and Kashif Nasim 10.

Eason took 4-14 off 10 overs to complete a very good afternoon, while the five other home bowlers secured at least one wicket.

Reading, who were missing Andy Rishton, Amardeep Dosanjh and the injured Tom Fray, were all out for 101 in the 38th over.

“Our batsmen were unable to apply themselves as well as they should have done,” said Hartley.

“It was a wicket where you could get in and play some shots, but we didn’t do that.

“It wasn’t a good day at the office for us and I am now very keen that we to bounce back and do well against Banbury.”

They were rolled over for just 40 at Banbury two months ago, their lowest ever total in the HCPL.

While Reading look set to finish fourth or fifth in the table, Banbury are still in with a chance of lifting the title. 

But it is a must-win game for them following their defeat by High Wycombe last weekend.

Wycombe moved to the top of the table with 295 points, followed by Henley, who surprisingly lost to Burnham, on 287 and Banbury with 286.

Reading are fourth with 223.