HURST dropped to seventh in Division 2b after they lost by 72 runs at home to Finchampstead 2nds, writes Richard Ashton.

Usman Ijaz took 5-60 as Finches were bowled out for 213, youngster Mac Keast top scoring with 41.

Hurst’s reply never got going, and they were eventually bowled out for 141 as Asim Hussain (4-50) and Sam Taylor (3-30) worked their way through the hosts’ batting line-up.

Wargrave fell to a 70-run defeat at home to table-topping High Wycombe 2nds.

Mark Firth (5-48) and Kirk Graham (3-37) bowled the hosts into a good position as Wycombe were dismissed for 180, but none of the Wargrave batsmen got going as they were knocked over for 110.

Wargrave visit Thatcham Town on Saturday.

Kidmore End put Division 2a basement boys OMT to the sword with a 134-run trouncing.

Zac Leonard (69), Abid Ul-Wahab (55), Jake Leach (46) and Jake Easton (41) were all among the runs as Kidmore declared on 326-8 after 50 overs, and spinners Alex Crawford (5-48) and Umer Faroqi (4-67) then combined to remove OMT for 192.

Third-placed Kidmore End trvael to second-bottom Chesham 2nds on Saturday.

Purley on Thames’ Division 3a promotion hopes suffered a setback as they lost by one wicket at Bagshot.

Richard Sandford (56) and Andrew Jackson (43) led the Potters to 181, but despite the best efforts of Jackson (4-47) and Patrick Allen (3-43) Bagshot passed their total in 28.3 overs.

Purley on Thames host Harefield 2nds on Saturday.

In Division 3b, basement boys Sonning boosted their survival hopes with a 13-run victory at third-placed Chiswick & Whitton.

Manu Rawat (128) led the way as Sonning scored 286-8, and Ghulam Abbas (3-100) then impressed as the hosts were dismissed for 273.

Sonning are at home to Ruislip on Saturday.

Craig Palmer (3-20) and Doug Macdonald (3-28) inspired Sulhamstead (111-3) to a comfortable seven-wicket win at home to neighbours Theale & Tilehurst (110) in Division 4a. Jamie Seward made an unbeaten 52 in the run chase for Sulhamstead, who host leaders Binfield on Saturday.

Theale & Tilehurst travel to Boyne Hill 2nds.

Wargrave 2nds climbed to second in the Division 5b table with a 92-run success at cellar-dwellers Purley on Thames 2nds.

Matt Townson top scored with 68 as Wargrave declared on 237-8 after 48 overs, Raj Senniappan taking 3-49.

The Potters struggled in reply, and with Martin Smith bagging 6-31, they were dismissed for 145.

Matt Hill (63) and Jagz Beniwal (42) batted well for Sonning 2nds (190), but they lost by 136 runs to Aldershot 2nds (326-2 declared after 39 overs).

Hurst 2nds endured a 160-run battering at Finchampstead 4ths in Division 6b.

Ben Simmons (94), Khartik Khanti (79no) and Gareth Biggs (76) all made half centuries as Finches declared on 332-4 after 47 overs, and Liam Bulteel’s 4-16 then helped dismiss Hurst for 172.

Jamie Stansfield scored a wonderful century to help Bradfield thrash neighbours Theale & Tilehurst 2nds by 159 runs.

His 104, aidded by 59 from Jon Stebbings, guided Bradfield to 317, Mark Mason taking 4-102.

T&T struggled in reply as Jack Byrne grabbed 5-31, ending on 158 all out.

Bradfield visit Binfield 2nds on Saturday.

In Division 7a, Royal Ascot 3rds (190-8) beat Theale & Tilehurst 3rds (189-9) by two wickets, while Al MacEwan (66no) and Matt Burrows (62) fired Sulhamstead 2nds (175-3) to a seven-wicket win against Kidmore End 2nds (172). Jonny Abbott made an unbeaten 45 for Kidmore.

Sonning 3rds conceded their Division 8a game at Datchet 4ths, and Wargrave 3rds (249-7) beat Bagshot 3rds (144) by 105 runs, Ollie Newton (76) and Kevin Rapley (4-19) starring. Joe Farrow took 6-14 as Bradfield 2nds (85-0 thrashed Thatcham Town 3rds (83) by 10 wickets.