RELEGATED Reading are finding life just as tough in Division Two of the Home Counties Premier League as they did in the top flight.

They have now gone five matches without a win following a crushing 208-run defeat at Harefield last Saturday after being skittled out for just 89.

Harefield posted an impressive total of 297-7 with openers Matt Ogden smashing 90 off 118 balls and Jack Fosberry 51 off 41 before both were bowled by Abid Ul Wahab. The pair put on 82 for the first wicket.

There was another productive partnership for the third wicket with Ogden and George Shiel (38) lifting the total from 132-2 to 214-3.

Ul Wahab went to claim another wicket to finish with 3-48 off nine overs, while skipper Firaz Amjad took 2-50 off 10.

In reply, Reading were soon in trouble, losing their first three wickets for just six runs.

Ankoma Phillips, with 34 off 59 balls, and Ollie Williams, 10 from 31, managed to raise the total to 44, while Ul Wahab (pictured) made 11.

But they were the only three batsmen to reach double figures in what was a thoroughly disappointing performance.

For Harefield, Ogden claimed four wickets at a personal cost of just nine runs in 4.1 overs, while Doug King took 2-9 off six.

This Saturday (11.30am) bottom club Reading are home to fourth-placed Chesham and will be hoping for a change of fortune in the first of the season’s timed games.

In the Thames Valley League Division 4a, Reading 2nds’ match with Slough 3rds was edging towards an exciting finish when rain intervened.

The hosts were bowled out for 214 (Rahul Bharti 59, Dilpreet Dhillon 32, Vikramijt Sidhu 25) while Slough were on 163-6 off 40 overs with Majid unbeaten on 71.

Reading 3rds lost by two wickets at home to Aldershot 3rds in Division 6b.

They made 147-8 off their 52 overs, the main contributors being Chris Reynard with 44 and Mahesh Gopalakrishnan 31. Srinivasan Kumar took 2-38 off 8.4 overs.

The visitors sealed victory in the final over at 151-8, Kym Marsden hitting 48.

For the second week running, Reading 4ths collected 25 points without even playing. This time it was pointless Windsor 4ths who forfeited the Division 8a fixture, as they had their previous four games.

This Saturday, Reading 2nds are away to unbeaten leaders NPL, the 3rds visit Hurst 2nds and the 4ths are hoping to return to action at home to Datchet 4ths.