READING offered little resistance to holders High Wycombe in the opening round of the Home Counties Premier League T20 competition, writes Dave Wright.

Fielding a side that showed little resemblance to last season, the Sonning Lane club were crushed by nine wickets at home on Monday.

After Jake Roberts had gone for a duck, they made a moderate recovery to 83-4 with newcomer Abid Ul Wahab (pictured) making 36, but could only reach 100-9 in their 20 overs.

Wycombe took just 15.2 overs to reach their target with Teddie Casterton and Nathan Hawkes putting on 82 for the first wicket.

Skipper Hawkes was bowled by Ul Wahab (1-27) for 39, but Casterton remained 54 not out and Henry Moore on six.

The 17-year-old Casterton recently smashed an unbeaten 267 in just 153 balls for Wycombe’s Royal Grammar School against John Hampden GS last weekend and followed it up with 109 not out in the match against Radley College.

Despite the size of their defeat, Reading secretary Marc Salazar felt there were positives to come out of Monday’s game.

“ A real team spirit pervaded throughout with good humour and great camaraderie evident all day,” he said.

“I saw many positives to give the team encouragement going into the season.”

Salazar was also pleased with new skipper Firaz Amjad, saying the wicketkeeper “put in a very creditable performance.”

Reading, who lost several players after being relegated, open their HCPL Division Two campaign at Buckingham on Saturday.

Reading 2nds and 3rds provide the action at Sonning Lane on Saturday against High Wycombe 3rds and Royal Ascot 3rds respectively while Shenica Gumbs is set to lead a young fourth team at Royal Ascot 4ths.