WEST Reading climbed to the top of the Premier Division following a dramatic two-wicket home win against Sulhamstead, writes Max Baker-Smith.

The visitors won the toss and elected to bat at Reading University, posting 188-8 thanks to useful top order contributions from Ryan Brown (34), Chris Mercer (36) and Marc Thompson (42).

In reply West Reading lost wickets at regular intervals, and at 116-6 seemed to be in danger of losing, but Sultan Khan (52 not out) came in at number eight at and took West Reading to victory, despite an excellent spell from Doug Macdonald (4-34).

Peppard Stoke Row, top of the table at the start of the day, fell to a 20-run defeat at Woodcote.

Batting first, the hosts got off to a strong start, with Peppard Stoke Row unable to take early wickets as openers JP Brouard (34) and Will Macdonald (38) set a solid base.

Despite spinners Chris Humphreys (2-37) and Ashley Hayden (3-44) sharing five wickets, Woodcote accelerated to reach 204-5, with South African Micky Molloy (53) top scoring.

In reply, PSR never quite got going, and lost wickets at regular intervals throughout.

Despite useful contributions from Charles Lamprecht (38) and Dan Hayden (48), the visitors were bowled out for 184, Paul Knox (4-34) the destroyer-in-chief.

Bottom-of-the-table Emmbrook and Bearwood fell to another defeat to worsen their relegation troubles, this time by three wickets to Welford Park.

Emmbrook could only manage a total of 166, with wickets shared among six bowlers, before Joe Lawrence’s 46 guided Park home.

Mortimer West End stay in the relegation zone following their losing draw with Crowthorne & Crown Wood.

Crows posted a mammoth 286-8, with half centuries from Richard Barron (75), Nick Outram (67) and Alex Sykes (53) leading the way.

In reply, the visitors made some early inroads before Abrar Pewekar (84) and captain Nick Kingston (75no) helped MWE reach 236-7.

Ruislip Victoria beat Woodley by five wickets as they moved away from the drop zone.

Woodley made a competitive 225-9 with Reyhan Ul-Din (63) the high scorer, but the hosts chased it down easily thanks to half centuries from Kashif Maan (51) and Yakub Vora (64).

In Division One, Berkshire County Sports extended their lead at the top of the table with a comprehensive seven-wicket victory against Hawley.

The hosts were shot out for 63 thanks to excellent bowling from Basat Ali (4-5) and Umer Chaudhary (3-20), and BCS needed only 13 overs to complete the win.

Bottom-of-the-table Stratfield Turgis could only manage a losing draw against Checkendon.

Checkendon totalled 266-8, largely thanks to opening batsman Ujjwal Tickoo (100). In reply Stratfield Turgis ended 180-5, with neither side close to winning the game.

Sandhurst stayed second and furthered their promotion push with a 56-run victory against Bradfield.

James Birch (71) top scored as the Camels amassed 237-6, and Bradfield were then bowled out for 181 with the wickets shared between six Sandhurst bowlers. Tim Smith (57) offered the bulk of the Bradfield resistance.

Third-placed West Reading 2nds kept the pressure on Sandhurst with a two-wicket victory against Sulhamstead 2nds.

Steve Belcher (50) led the way in Sully’s total of 205-7, and when Wests collapsed to 137-6, it looked like they may lose.

However, number six Waseen Ameen made an excellent unbeaten 64 to see his side home.

In a mid-table clash, Goring managed a 68-run victory against Ibis Mapledurham.

Andy Steele (68) helped Goring to 243-3, before Pete Slade (4-25) and Chris Winterbottom (4-35) combined to dismiss Ibis Mapledurham for 175.

Division Two table-toppers Farley Hill were beaten for the first time this season, losing to Earley by six wickets.

The leaders were restricted to 195-9, and Earley knocked them off in 43 overs thanks to Oliver Johnson’s unbeaten 94.

Second-placed Peppard Stoke Row 2nds could only manage a winning draw against relegation-threatened Sandhurst 2nds.

PSR set a competitive 241-1 thanks to Richard Walker (90no) and James Hern’s career-best 77no, which formed an unbroken 160-run stand on the back of a maiden league 50 for Jake Leach who then had to retire hurt.

However, Andy Tutty (58) helped the Camels survive as they reached 184-7.

Shinfield kept their promotion hopes well and truly alive by beating Waltham St Lawrence by five wickets.

Prashant Gandhi (4-31) helped restrict Waltham St Lawrence to 148-7, before Ankush Gandhi (58) saw his side to a comfortable victory.

In Division Three, captain Stuart Barrable (114no) helped top-of-the-table Twyford and Ruscombe (207) to a 12-run victory over Purley on Thames 3rds (195), Robin Thompson (4-36) and Kieran Musidi (4-31) doing the damage for the leaders.

West Reading 3rds heightened Sulhamstead 3rds’ relegation problems with a comprehensive 125-run victory.

Saadat Khan (95) led Wests to 250-6, and Adeel Rafique (4-37) was on form with the ball to see his opponents skittled for 125.

Mortimer West End 2nds remain in the relegation zone after a 170-run defeat to Knowl Hill.

Jordy Duffy (103) and Toby Cutler (107) hit sparkling centuries in Knowl Hill’s impressive score of 264-8, before Duffy (3-21) helped bowl out MWE for 94.

Woodley 2nds stayed in the second promotion spot after a 130-run victory against Ruislip Victoria 2nds. Balaji Balaji (64) helped Woodley to 237-9, before Gowtham Payavula (6-21) impressed as the Middlesex-based side were routed for 107.

Warfield’s promotion hopes suffered a blow as they lost to Welford Park 2nds by five wickets.

John Curran (40) helped Warfield reach 173-8, but it was not enough as Jacob McManus (53no) saw Park home.

Division Four leaders Peppard Stoke Row 3rds had by far the better of the draw in their top-of-the-table clash at home to Bradfield 2nds.

Under 15 Dan Bacon (82) top scored in PSR’s 213, but despite Dion Sampson’s (4-14) they could not bowl their opposition out, the visitors ending on 140-8.

Matt Robertson’s 70 saw Emmbrook and Bearwood 3rds (257-6) to a 167-run victory against Hawley 2nds (90).

Andrew Baines (70) helped Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds chase down Binfield 3rds’ total of 129 in quick time, securing an eight-wicket victory.

Basement boys Waltham St Lawrence 2nds conceded their game against Shinfield 2nds, keeping their opponents third in the table.