READING CC’s frail batting was again cruelly exposed on Saturday when they slumped to a seven-wicket Home Counties Premier League Division One defeat at the hands of Slough at Sonning Lane, writes Dave Wright.

They were rolled over for just 104 in 34.1 overs with only three batsman making double figures.

Even Martin Andersson, the batsman they so heavily rely on, could not come to the rescue, being caught low down by skipper Bobby Sher for a five-ball duck.

Firaz Amjad made only eight and Amardeep Dosanjh also went for a duck, adjudged lbw even though Shaan Khan’s delivery seemed to strike him on his hip.

Reading lost their fourth wicket at 20 with Sam Gemmill making just five, while opener Pav Chima fell for 14 and half the side was back in the pavilion for 46.

Jack Beaven and Bobby Malik lifted the total to 94 before Beaven (38 off 47 balls) was given out lbw, although he claimed the ball had hit his bat first.

Five runs later skipper Malik’s resistance ended when he was bowled by Ali Akbar for 27 (off 46 balls), making it 97-7.

Spinner Akbar cleaned up the tail, finishing with 4-5 off 25 deliveries.

It was the second week running Reading had lost their last three wickets without managing a run.

“The batsmen are still not applying themselves as well as they should be, which is disappointing,” admitted Malik.

“They are better than this, but are lacking in confidence.”

Slough needed just 18.2 overs to sew up a seven-wicket win with Nabil Shah (55) and Waqas Hussain (39) adding 94 for the second wicket with both departing at 103.

The wicket takers were Andersson with 1-44 off six overs and Hamish Scott with 1-26 off 4.2, the other dismissal coming from a run out thanks to Chris Dishington and wicketkeeper Amjad.

This defeat leaves Reading in even deeper relegation trouble, but Malik insists his side will continue to battle.

But their hopes of staying up now become even tougher as the league reverts to the 50-50 format for the rest of the season.

This means their three main bowlers – Beaven, Andersson and Malik – are restricted to 10 overs apiece, while medium pacer Dishington is not available for this Saturday’s bottom-of-the-table clash at Harefield, who already look all but relegated.

  • SECOND-BOTTOM Reading 2nds were beaten by nine wickets at Newbury in Division 3a of the Thames Valley League.

They were bowled out for just 130 with Farman Qasi their top scorer on 29.

Shiryar Ahmed bowled Newbury opener Vivek Srivastava for a duck, but Charlie Antsey (64) and Martin Walker (58) saw their side home in the 30th over.

In Division 5b, Reading 3rds defeated Slough 4ths by 15 runs at Sonning Lane in a match involving two of the bottom three teams.

They were dismissed for 211 with Jake Foster making 78 and Nat Narayanasamy 52.

Nat then saw his sons Shreyas (4-41) and Shashank (4-42), along with Rob Cassie (2-66) skittle Slough for 196 in 46 overs.

A depleted Reading 4ths lost to leaders Wokingham 4ths by six wickets in Division 8a.

They made 119 with Wazir Khan contributing 33 before the hosts sealed victory in the 33rd over following an unbroken stand of 52 between Glyn Clements (28) and Raj Acharya (23).