BRACKNELL secured a second Division 5b win of the season as they walloped Purley on Thames 2nds by 152 runs, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors endured a dreadful start as they collapsed to 23-3, but a fine fourth-wicket stand of 79 between Majid Sharif and Junaid Ashiq (32) took the score to 112 until the latter was caught by Jack Purser off the bowling of Michael Coggs.

Sharif continued on his merry way and was joined by captain Taz Shah, the pair putting on 114.

Sharif’s brilliant innings was ended when he was bowled by Purser for 130, but Shah carried on to finish a superb knock of his own unbeaten on 90, Bracknell totalling 306-6 in their 45 overs.

Mohammad Shabbir bowled Pete Rackley for a duck before Purley battled on to 43 when Ashiq had Chris Rackley caught behind by Hussain.

He grabbed a second wicket when castling Sachin Deshmane to make it 81-3, and Chris Priestley became Ashiq’s (3-31) third victim shortly after.

There was little resistance from the middle and lower order bar Tom Purser’s 36, and Sharif (3-7) and Peter Henly (2-61) worked their way through the line-up to leave the Potters 154 all out.

Arul Appavoo (5-26) continued his fine start to the season, but Wargrave 2nds (111) lost by 34 runs to Falkland 3rds, while Sonning 2nds (139) lost to Boyne Hill 3rds (201-7) by 62 runs.

Kidmore End remain joint-top of Division 2a after they beat Eversley by 107 runs.

Captain James Frost top scored with 30 not out in Kidmore's 193-9, but Jeff Sheldon (4-28) ripped through the top order before Alex Crawford spun out the tail as Eversley were rolled for just 86.

Kidmore End host Kew on Saturday.

In Division 2b, Imran Malik (91), Neal Robinson (77no) and Mandip Sohi (46) were all among the runs as Wargrave (274-6) hammered Beaconsfield (148) by 126 runs.

Spinners Mark Firth (4-35) and Robinson (3-22) again did the damage for Wargrave, who host Royal Ascot on Saturday.

A sub-par batting performance resulted in Hurst being thrashed by 102 runs at home to Thatcham Town.

Jack Young made 55 for Thatcham after they were asked to bat, but useful spells from Aryan Joshi (3-38), Usman Ijaz (2-27) and Nick Reynolds (2-38) seemed to have Hurst in a good position as they restricted their opponents to 194-9 in 50 overs.

The hosts made an appalling start as Ryan Gilmour reduced them to 2-3 with three wickets in the space of four balls.

Kelvin Baillie and Sam Hawkes took the score to 33 before they were both dismissed, Baillie ending the innings as top scorer with 17.

Tom Hibbs was next to go to leave Hurst 43-6, and they were eventually shot out for just 92 with Gilmour finishing with 5-23.

Hurst travel to Wokingham 2nds this Saturday.

Purley on Thames continued their encouraging form with a four-wicket triumph at Finchampstead 3rds.

Robbie Jeffrey (4-40) impressed with the ball as Finches were restricted to 194-8, and George Wheeler (52) and Patrick Allen (46) helped the Potters home.

Purley on Thames host Falkland 2nds on Saturday.

Mark Richards (44 and 4-30) was the Sonning (148) star as they squeezed past Datchet 2nds (129) in a low-scoring Division 3b thriller.

David James (65), Jamie Seward (47) and Matt Hill (46no) battled bravely in the Sulhamstead (266-9) middle order, but their side were beaten by 25 runs at White Waltham (291-4) in Division 4a.

Hurst 2nds stayed top of the Division 6b table with a 97-run victory at Aldershot 3rds.

Skipper Ollie Lovegrove (111) made his second century of the season – to go with two other 50s in five innings – to help Hurst post an imposing 279-4, James Smith adding 66 and Tim Everitt 43.

Aldershot were never really in the hunt in reply, eventually bowled out for 182 as Smith completed a good day with figures of 4-23.

Theale & Tilehurst 2nds (176) crushed Burnham 4ths (83) by 93 runs.

In Division 7a, openers Dan Corsini (46) and Jeremy Wing (45) put on a stand of 114 to set the platform for a 37-run win for Royal Ascot 3rds at home to Kidmore End 2nds.

The home side reached 239-7 in their 45 overs before bowling out the visitors for 202, Duncan Grant top scoring with 73.

Phil Walden (116no) and Al MacEwan (76) were in scintillating form for Sulhamstead 2nds (302-4) as they thumped Theale & Tilehurst 3rds (144) by 158 runs.

Naeem Mohammed took 3-49 for Royal Ascot 4ths (114), but they were beaten by 68 runs at Wargrave 3rds (182-9) in Division 8a.

Jon Bartlett top scored with 85, but Bradfield 2nds (213-8) were beaten by two wickets at Boyne Hill 4ths (214-8).

Bob Bolton took 4-53 for Bradfield, but the hosts got home with a ball to spare.

Jagz Beniwal smashed 74 for Sonning 3rds (149-9), but they lost to Hayes 3rds (150-4) by six wickets.

Kidmore End 3rds (136-7) climbed to third in Division 9a following their three-wicket success against Eversley 4ths.