BERKSHIRE County Sports won the battle of the newly-promoted teams as they earned a two-wicket Premier Division success at home to Sandhurst, writes Richard Ashton.

Zaheer Ahmed (3-23) was the destroyer-in-chief as the Camels were shot out for just 107, and despite Josh Broadhurst (3-31) and Simon Hards (3-33) almost stealing a win, BCS edged home in 32 overs.

Craig Palmer (4-16) and Shiva Aruna (3-22) did the damage as Sulhamstead (77-1) thrashed Welford Park (76) by nine wickets.

New captain Dan Hayden (83no) led the way for Peppard Stoke Row as they swept aside Woodley by six wickets. Shakeel Bashir top scored with 57 as the visitors made 153 – Dion Sampson (3-22) and Ruaridh Scott (3-40) among the wickets – and Hayden crashed his rapid innings from just 45 balls.

Champions West Reading were forced to hold on for a draw against Woodcote.

Paul Knox (78no from 45 balls), Will Macdonald (72) and Ryan Lennard (67) helped the visitors amass an imposing 267-6, and with Mark Pearson (3-23) bowling well, Wests could only reach 184-7 with Zafar Ali (51) top scoring.

Crowthorne & Crown Wood pulled off an astonishing run chase to beat Ruislip Victoria by four wickets.

Zeb Ahmed (81) and Richard Lambie (64) looked to have put the hosts in command as they racked up 275-8, but a stunning century from Mohammed Shakeel Arshad (108), aided by 57 from Dan Cartledge, helped Crows home in just 31.3 overs. Ant Cluett had earlier taken 4-61 for the visitors.

In Division One, Jim Warren’s superb 132 inspired Checkendon to a 61-run victory against West Reading 2nds.

The home side cracked 273-5, and with Vikas Chib claiming 5-39, Wests were dismissed for 212.

Errol Masters (4-29) was Ibis Mapledurham’s (178-2) star with the ball as they crushed Sulhamstead 2nds by eight wickets.

Dave Drury (74no) and captain Matt Jones (73no) then ensured the run chase was routine.

Mortimer West End eased past Emmbrook & Bearwood by seven wickets in a clash between the two relegated sides.

Matt Smart (68) and Ollie Williams (51) helped the Bears to a competitive 238-9 declared after 43 overs, but Jason Searancke’s beautiful 84 set up the game for West End.

Gary Niederheitmann hammered 91, but was still on the losing side as Goring (189-9) lost to Bradfield (190-3) by seven wickets. Tim Smith top scored with 64 for the winning side.

A destructive 76 from just 35 balls from Olly Nicholson fired Peppard Stoke Row 2nds to a five-wicket win at Farley Hill.

Ali Jalil (80) and Michael Sheridan (57) were among the runs as Farley reached 229-6 – Under-16 Will Atkinson taking 3-50 – and Nicholson’s fireworks helped his side home with seven balls to spare.

Amit Ghandi hit a staggering 204 as Shinfield battered Emmbrook & Bearwood 2nds by 201 runs in Division Two.

Fakhir Ali also chipped in with an unbeaten 65 as the hosts racked up 320-2 before declaring after just 35 overs, and they then skittled the hosts for just 119.

Dan Litwin recorded sensational figures of 8-31 as Hawley (86-4) routed Warfield (82) by six wickets.

Marc Teal (85), Shiva Nagam (72no from 47 balls) and Mark Higgins (63) were in the runs as Twyford & Ruscombe battered Stratfield Turgis by 251 runs.

Steve Clarke took 4-61 as Twyford posted 320-7, and Steve Beamish’s 7-36 was then the catalyst for the visitors to be shot out for just 69.

Siva Kumar’s 4-37 proved crucial in helping Waltham St Lawrence (172-6) to a four-wicket win at Woodley 2nds, Pradeep Kadloor top scoring for the hosts with an unbeaten 61.

Ollie Johnson made 81 not out for Earley (182-4) in their three-wicket loss to Crowthorne & Crown Wood (183-7). Rob Crook (73)top scored for the hosts, while Prasad Gore snared figures of 4-26.

In Division Three, Mark Montgomery’s unbeaten 52 helped Sandhurst 2nds (164-4) to a six-wicket win against Ruislip Victoria 2nds (163). Ilija Krunic (62) and Mick Walker (60) had earlier helped RV to 141-1, before they collapsed alarmingly.

Hugh Asquith scored a chanceless 110 not out as Peppard Stoke Row 3rds had the better of a draw at home to Mortimer.

Youngster George Lee chipped in with a rapid 85 as the hosts scored 255-5, but Archie Fritz (76) and Nigel Payne (45) helped them to safety on 159-8.

Ed Dack made an obdurate 62 not out for Bradfield 2nds (159-8), but they lost by five wickets to Welford Park 2nds.

West Reading 3rds (156) lost a one-run thriller to Purley-on-Thames 3rds (157).

Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds earned a 76-run victory against Emmbrook & Bearwood 3rds in Division Four.

Finley Hunt took 4-41 as Crows reached 167-7, but Emmbrook struggled with the bat and were shot out for 91.

Jameel Khan snaffled 4-61 to help Sulhamstead (142-6) beat Falkland Development (140) by four wickets, while Shinfield 2nds (228-8) thrashed Binfield (59) by 169 runs.

Mortimer West End 2nds conceded their game against West Reading 4ths.