READING CC will not give up their fight for survival in Division One of the Home Counties Premier League despite losing to fellow strugglers Great & Little Tew by five wickets, writes Dave Wright.

“It was disappointing; not the result we wanted,” admitted skipper Bobby Malik (pictured right), who held a long meeting with his players after Saturday’s game at Sonning Lane.

“But we intend to stay positive and will battle on.”

Reading, who remain second from bottom of the table, are not being helped by player availability.

Ian Slatcher is nursing an injury, while Aussie Ryan James, who made a half-century on his last appearance, has missed two games due to “work commitments”.

To make matters worse last Saturday, star batsman Martin Andersson was prevented from playing by his contracted club, Middlesex, who said he needed a rest during a busy schedule of 2nd XI fixtures.

Andersson hit a century against Warwickshire 2nds on Monday.

This meant Reading Blue Coat School sixth former Sam Gemmill retained his place in the team and there was a debut for John Madejski Academy scholar and spinner Salman Khalid, who is only 14, making him one of the youngest to play for the first team in the club’s history.

Rob Cassie was called up for his first game since the match at Great & Little Tew early in the season, while Pav Chima also returned.

The one highlight of Reading’s performance was a fine knock of 48 by Phil Brennan off 106 balls and containing seven boundaries.

Chima and Amardeep Dosanjh each contributed 19, Jack Beaven 13 and Qasim Ali 14.

Reading were all out for 149 in the 63rd over with Malik admitting: “That was about 50 short of what we were hoping to get. Some of our shot making wasn’t at its best”.

Despite an early wicket for skipper Malik, Great & Little Tew always looked comfortable in their reply and they cruised to their target at 150-5 in the 46th over.

Malik finished with 3-48 off 20 overs despite being hampered by a hip injury he had suffered at Tring last week, forcing him to restrict his run-up.

Beaven had figures of 2-56 off 16 overs.

The skipper added: “We didn’t have much luck in field, dropping a few catches and our fielding was not at its best.

“We thought we had one of their batsman out when Asim (Zaka) took a catch at short leg, but the ball had come of his helmet and so it was not out. We could do with a change of luck as well.”

Reading are hoping that Andersson will return for this Saturday’s match at title-chasing Henley, but Brennan is not available.

“We know it going to be another tough game for us as Henley have a very strong side, but it is an opportunity for us to raise our game and put on a good show,” added Malik.

  • READING 2nds drew with Cove 2nds and remain bottom of Division 3a of the Thames Valley League.

The home side made 230-6 declared (Anwar Whight 3-48, pictured right) off 49 overs with Reading finishing on 206-8 off 51 overs.

They were 50-6 before Vikramjit Sidhu made an excellent 73 and shared a 90-run partnership with Dilpreet Dhillon (36), while No. 9 Chaminda Alocious also added 36.

Reading are home to Falkland 2nds this Saturday.

Nat Narayanasamy scored an unbeaten 111 for Reading 3rds in their drawn game with Falkland 3rds in Division 5b.

He and Jake Foster (62) shared a stand of 110 as their side posted 270-4 in 51 overs.

Falkland replied with 151-7 off 48 overs after seeing two of their batsmen forced to retire through injury. Raja Khan took 5-24.

Reading, who move up to fifth in the table, visit second-placed Bagshot 2nds this weekend.

In Division 8b, a very young Reading 4ths side suffered a 63-run defeat in their derby with Sonning 3rds.

The home side raced to 277-1dec off 38 overs with Naqash Tahir making 149no and Steve Rayfield 100, the pair putting on 240 for the first wicket.

Reading put on a gallant show in reply, making 214 after being 124-7.

Adam McConkey was not out 62, while Alvin Waterman contributed 42, Wazir Khan 30 and Jack Wright 26.

Indeveer Sahota with 5-28 off nine overs was the pick of the Sonning bowlers.

Reading, who stay last but one in the standings, are home to third-placed Datchet 4ths this weekend.