FARLEY Hill were crowned Division Two champions after they held on for a losing draw at basement boys Sandhurst 2nds, writes Max Baker-Smith.

Camels’ openers Andy Tutty (67) and Andy Yeates (57) helped them post 234-4 off their 45 overs before the visitors struggled to 178-9, but the 14 points Farley Hill amassed were enough to ensure silverware with one game remaining.

Peppard Stoke Row 2nds climbed back into the top two after beating hosts Waltham St Lawrence by 63 runs.

Don Townsin (51) helped PSR reach 182-9, before the league’s all-time leading wicket-taker Roy Hayden (5-42) added to his tally in Saints’ total of 111.

A low-scoring affair saw Emmbrook & Bearwood 2nds beat Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2nds by 40 runs.

Amit Viroja (37) top scored as the Bears were bowled out for 109, Dan Finucane (5-29) ending with excellent figures.

However, the Crows capitulated in reply, and were routed for just 69.

In the Premier Division, West Reading are tantalisingly close to their maiden title following a 10-wicket drubbing of hosts Mortimer West End.

Ehtsham Iqbal (7-33) took advantage of helpful bowling conditions to rip through the heart of the basement boys’ batting line up, MWE skittled for just 73.

And there were no alarms for Wests as Taskeen Ahmed (41no) and Adam Davidson (34no) saw their side to a comfortable victory, leaving them requiring only eight points from their final two games for glory.

Emmbrook & Bearwood remain in the relegation zone after losing by five wickets at Crowthorne & Crown Wood.

Captain Sean Woodward (53) provided the only score of note for the Bears as they were bowled out for 107, largely thanks to an excellent spell from Sinith Chandran (6-32).

The Crows were steady in reply, with only one batsman failing to reach double figures, as they chased the total in 26.5 overs.

Richard Lambie blasted an unbeaten 110 for Ruislip Victoria (250-5), but second-placed Peppard Stoke Row could not begin their run chase due to rain.

Sulhamstead (53-0) were left frustrated as they seemed well-placed against Woodcote (210), while Welford Park (259-8) – aided by Will Herrington (78) and Joe Lawrence (64) – were also on top at Woodley (26-1) when rain stopped play.

Division One basement side Stratfield Turgis earned a winning draw at home to Ibis Mapledurham.

Batting first, Stratfield scored 148-7, with Chris Webber (5-33) doing the majority of the damage.

However, Ibis struggled in reply, and only managed to reach 94-6 as Steve Clarke (3-24) showed his quality with the ball.

Bradfield were saved by the weather as they only managed to total 140-9, with Sulhamstead 2nds looking good on 69-1 off just 13 overs before the rain arrived.

Top-of-the-table Berkshire County Sports posted a competitive 228-8, but only managed to bowl four overs at West Reading 2nds (11-0).

Vikas Chib (74) and Manpreet Singh (71) led the way for Checkendon as they declared on 228-2 after 39 overs, but Hawley (21-0) faced only 3.1 overs before the weather came.

Elsewhere, Goring-on-Thames (206-6) were on their way to posting a good total against Sandhurst before the game was cut short after 39 overs.

Warfield stayed in the second Division Three promotion spot after beating Knowl Hill by 57 runs.

Shabrin Maujoon (65) saw Warfield to 153 all out, before Knowl Hill were shot out for just 96.

Woodley 2nds amassed 185-9 before their game with Welford Park 2nds was called off without a ball being bowled in the second innings, while West Reading 3rds only managed to bowl two balls at Ruislip Victoria 2nds (2-0) after posting 160-6.

Mortimer West End 2nds racked up a competitive 238-4 before rain put a stop to proceedings with Purley-on-Thames 3rds (53-1).

Top-of-the-table Twyford & Ryscombe collected full points and Sulhamstead 3rds conceded their game.

In Division Four, the only completed game was won by Falkland Development, who toppled Emmbrook & Bearwood 3rds by 69 runs. Jimmy Lennox (73) led the way for Falkland as they scored 220-8, before George Hawkins (5-32) starred in dismissing the Bears for 151.

Mark Lambert blasted an unbeaten 63 not out off just 38 balls for leaders Peppard Stoke Row 3rds (239-7), while Neeraj Sharma made 58 on his seasonal debut after recovering from injury.

Yet rain was again the winner, Waltham St Lawrence 2nds’ innings ended on 64-2 after 15.5 overs.

Not a ball was bowled between Binfield 3rds and Shinfield 2nds, while Hawley 2nds conceded to Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds.

l EMMBROOK & Bearwood youngster Archie Carter took the individual batting honours in the Royal London Under-15 County Cup.

Berkshire’s talented young batsman scored a total of 414 runs from six innings, remaining not out in half of them and giving him an average of 138.00.

He scored two centuries, with his highest total being the 121 he made against the Isle of Wight.

Archie, who attends Forest School, has also captained the South and West Region Under-15 team and in all has hit six centuries this season.

Berkshire won Group 4B of the Royal London Cup, with six wins and one defeat in their eight matches, with the other being rained off.

But there was heart-break for them in the B Division semi-finals as they lost to Kent by just four runs at Wokingham CC.

The visitors posted 261-7 in their 50 overs, and despite Carter (79 off 84) and Paul Stephens (67 off 62) batting well, Berkshire slipped from 234-4 to 257 all out in 49.4 overs.