EMMBROOK & Bearwood continued their pursuit of promotion back to the Premier Division with a winning draw at home to Sulhamstead 2nds in Division One, writes Phil Brennan.

The Bears lost openers Rajiv Gupta and Josh Smart cheaply, but Alex Cobb (49) and Sai Rajgopalan (41) provided some resistance as Emmbrook were bowled out for 202.

Sully were well placed in their reply, reaching 119-3 before slipping to 169-8 by the close. It was Richard Cole’s impressive 5-31 that spurred on the hosts, whilst opener Jason Doole (57) spearheaded Sulhamstead’s chase until he was removed by Sean Woodward (2-20).

Top-of-the- table Bradfield (17-1) had their match with lowly Farley Hill abandoned, while the same thing happened in the game between second-placed Mortimer West End and Checkendon (15-0).

Goring on Thames (107-9) held off visitors Ibis Mapledurham (145-7) who had to settle for a winning draw.

Captain Matt Jones (52) top scored for Ibis, Ollie Carrier taking 3-53 in what looked no more than a par score.

At 94-4 Goring suddenly lost four wickets for no runs, but the hosts hung on with Donovan Norman and Adam Ellis keeping their wickets.

Peppard Stoke Row 2nds claimed only their second victory of the season as they downed West Reading 2nds by five wickets in a bottom-of-the-table clash.

Saad Jaffary (52) top scored in West Reading’s 155-9, with Olly Nicholson (4-22) the pick of the bowlers. Danny May (54*) championed the chase with Nicholson (49) again impressive.

Premier Division champions elect Sulhamstead (201-7) were dominant with the ball in their victory over Ruislip Victoria (66).

Opener Chris Warne (70) top scored for the victors with skipper Aaron Briggs hitting a brisk 53 off 36 balls in support. Matthew Gill (4-27) then dismantled Ruislip’s middle order before Phil Braithwaite (3-8) skewered the tail.

Welford Park (134-1) claimed an encouraging victory over Sandhurst (132-7) as they continue to try and climb out of the relegation zone. Ian Herrington (4-37) helped restrict Sandhurst as he took his 600th BCL wicket, before Olly Sopp (42no) and Will Herrington (66no) chased the total with ease, the latter striking four sixes across his 28 balls.

Peppard Stoke Row (169-9) won by 18 runs against West Reading (151 all out) after Alfie Clifton claimed 4-19 in a match-winning performance.

Fergus Nutt (70) top scored for PSR in the first innings, with Dan Hayden (2-25) claiming the last two West Reading wickets in the second half, Kazam Kamal (33) top scoring. The result allowed PSR to leapfrog their opponents into second.

The runs of Usman Asif (76) – playing against his former club – and number nine Umer Khalid (65) ensured Berkshire County Sports posted 182-8 against Woodcote, despite 5-23 from Mark Pearson. Khalid completed a fine all-round performance with 3-26 to see the hosts bowled out for 171.

Woodley (152 all out) failed to add to their solitary win after a five-wicket loss to Crowthorne & Crown Wood (156-5). Ravi Godbole (5-31) was the pick of the visitors' bowlers before Adam Trigwell (57) steered the chase.

Waltham St Lawrence edged to a one-wicket success in their Division Two top-of-the-table clash against Shinfield.

Sree Venkata (5-37) and Zaheer Guijar (4-26) shone for the Saints as Shinfield registered 160 all out.

Venkata (54) added runs to his wickets but it was down to Waltham’s number nine, Chris England, and number 11, Siva Kumar, to see Waltham over the line as Anuraag Shukla (3-31) and Prashant Gandhi (3-39) bowled well for Shinfield.

Earley (217-5) beat Twyford and Ruscombe (93 all out) by 124 runs in their third-versus- fourth encounter.

A superb 106 from Ollie Johnson was the highlight of Earley’s innings before Prasad Gore (5-25) and Steven Mapes (4-18) excelled with the ball.

Dan Wilson made 64 as Hawley (111-3) made light work of Emmbrook and Bearwood 2nds (107 all out) by seven wickets.

Steve Thompson (3-36) and Bas Basanta (3-8) kept Emmbrook’s total down before the chase was completed in 21.5 overs.

Warfield (120-3) cruised to a seven-wicket success against Stratfield Turgis (116-9).

Shabrin Maujoon (50*) and captain Dan Torry (34) top scored in the chase after Mark Tisshaw took 4-32.

Woodley 2nds lost by eight wickets at Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2nds after being bowled out for 100. Dan Finuacane (4-10) did the damage before Justin O’Loughhlin (43) steered a simple chase, Woodley claiming two wickets from Tajdar Jawaid (2-11).

In Division Three, wickets were hard to come by as Peppard and Stoke Row 3rds (146-4) lost by eight wickets to West Reading 3rds (150-2), Fahad Raja (89*) leading a comfortable chase.

Sandhurst 2nds (151-8) routed Welford Park 2nds (44) by 107 runs, Jack O’Neil (3-6) and Mark Clapham (3-8) the standout bowlers. This was after Andrew Tutty (36) had top scored for Sandhurst in the first innings.

The match between Purley on Thames and Knowl Hill (17-1)was abandoned due to a player injury after 4.2 overs, while Mortimer’s (24-2) game with Bradfield 2nds was lost to the weather.

Division Four table-toppers Shinfield 2nds (62-4) brushed aside seven-man Waltham St Lawrence 2nds (61) by six wickets.

Emmbrook & Bearwood 3rds conceded their game against Mortimer West End 2nds, handing them 30 points.

A scorching 129 not out from Imran Zamam off 87 balls was the stand-out performance for West Reading 4ths (251-9) as they achieved a winning draw over Binfield 3rds (158-7).

He hit 10 sixes whilst Josh Flintoff (3-36) was the pick of the bowlers. Captain John Humphrey (78) then top scored for Binfield as West Reading used nine bowlers in vain to search for the victory.

Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds (126-6) beat Falkland Development XI (85 all out) by 41 runs to maintain their chances of snatching second place. Peter Clark (4-12) was the pick of Crowthorne’s bowlers after Sean Clarke (34) had top scored for them in the first innings.

Sulhamstead 3rds conceded their Bye Week Challenge game at Ruislip Victoria 2nds.