WEST Reading extended their lead at the top of the Premier Division with a resounding four-wicket win at Crowthorne and Crown Wood, writes Max Baker-Smith.

Wests won the toss and inserted the hosts, gaining early success as they reduced Crows to 37-3, Waleed Choudhry (3-14) taking two early wickets.

Despite resistance from Anthony Cluett (42), Crowthorne failed to accumulate enough runs, and ended up being bowled out for 152.

A solid opening partnership between Adam Davidson (38) and Taskeen Ahmed (39) got West Reading off to the solid start they needed, and they never looked back, reaching their modest target in the 33rd over.

Bottom-of-the-table Emmbrook and Bearwood worsened their position at the foot of the table with a 55-run defeat at Woodley.

Opener Richard Stanley (100no) set the innings up for the hosts, and useful contributions from the rest of the order saw them work their way to 238-5.

A fine opening partnership of 81 saw Emmbrook looking good, but Kashif Ali (4-49) bowled a good spell to remove opener Andy Webb (51), who top scored for his team, and then tore through the middle order as the Bears were bowled out for 183.

Peppard Stoke Row’s title hopes took a dent as they could only manage a winning draw against Mortimer West End.

Half centuries from Fergus Nutt (69) and Andy Watts (83) saw PSR to a healthy 268-6 before they declared after 44 overs, captain Dan Hayden adding an unbeaten 48 from just 35 balls.

The hosts took the old ball, and in-form left-arm spinner Chris Humphreys (5-36) again impressed.

However, resolute batting from Abrar Pewekar (72no) saw Mortimer West End finish their innings on 233-7.

Sulhamstead managed only their second victory of the season as they beat Ruislip Victoria by seven wickets.

Tight bowling saw Ruislip restricted to 177-6, and half centuries from Shiva Aruna (65no) and Aaron Briggs (59no) saw Sully home with minimal fuss.

Elsewhere in the top flight, Welford Park lost to Woodcote by eight wickets.

Useful contributions throughout the innings saw Welford Park post 193-9, but Woodcote made a mockery of this total, knocking it off in the 38th over with Ryan Lennard (80) top scoring.

Berkshire County Sports continued their domination at the top of Division One with a five-wicket victory against second-placed Sandhurst.

Umer Chaudhary (5-22) was too much for the Camels to handle as they were quickly all out for 127, and a half century from Waqas Ashraf (52) was enough to make sure BCS got home.

Stratfield Turgis remain rooted to the bottom of the league after a six-wicket defeat to Bradfield.

An extraordinary spell from Mike Reekie (8-25) saw Stratfield Turgis blown away for 135 before Will Banks (55no) ensured Bradfield got home.

Hawley are the other team in the relegation zone after a 141-run defeat by West Reading 2nds.

Half centuries from Adnan Raja (92), Osman Mahmood (50), and Usman Ali (56no) helped Wests to 260-4, and Usman Ali (4-35) then starred in helping bowl Hawley out for a disappointing 146.

Goring beat Sulhamstead 2nds by five wickets.

Matt Rosier (50no) and Keerthi Prakash (54) batted well to help Sully post 175-6, but Goring had useful contributions all the way down the order as they reached their target easily.

Ibis Mapledurham thrashed Checkendon by nine wickets after skittling the hosts for 154. Tom Osborne (79no) and Chris Webber (59no) then made the wicket look better for batting as Ibis cruised home.

In Division Two, Farley Hill beat Waltham St Lawrence by 19 runs to extend their lead at the top of the table.

Ali Jalil (93) top scored as Farley Hill posted 227-7, and they bowled out the Saints for 208.

Earley beat Crowthorne and Wood 2nds by 35 runs in a mid-table clash.

Andrew Baines (6-35) bowled well to help dismiss Earley for 170, but five different bowlers then took wickets for the hosts as Crows were bowled out for 135.

Shinfield beat Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nds by one wicket in a thrilling encounter. The hosts reached a competitive 193-9, but Anuraag Shukla’s 44 proved vital in Shinfield squeezing home.

Division Three table-toppers Twyford & Ruscombe comfortably beat Ruislip Victoria 2nds by nine wickets. The Middlesex side posted 159-8, but Twyford made light work of it, chasing it down inside 20 overs largely thanks to Marc Teal’s unbeaten 59.

Basement boys Sulhamstead 3rds (191) lost to Welford Park 2nds (211) by 20 runs.

Promotion candidates Warfield beat Woodley 2nds by six wickets.

Steve Ruddle (4-25) starred as Woodley 2nds were bowled out for 101, and David Wilson (52) ensured the victory as Warfield chased the score down without trouble.

Relegation-threatened Mortimer West End 2nds lost to West Reading 3rds by 21 runs. Kaseem Ali (81) saw Wests to a reasonable 181, despite exceptional figures from Andy Hobart (6-18).

However, MWE failed to chase the target down, being bowled out for 160.

Purley-on-Thames 3rds (108) lost to Knowl Hill (109-9) by one wicket.

In Division Four, Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds (104) were skittled for 104 before Shinfield 2nds (105-2) completed an eight-wicket victory.

Leaders Peppard Stoke Row 3rds received 30 points after Emmbrook & Bearwood 3rds conceded their game, with second-placed Bradfield 2nds also picking up the same amount due to Binfield 3rds’ concession.

Hawley 2nds could not raise a side against Falkland Development.