SULHAMSTEAD were crowned Premier Division champions with two weeks to spare as they overcame Sandhurst by 67 runs, writes Richard Ashton.

Skipper Aaron Briggs played the match-winning innings to ensure his side secured the silverware in his first season at the helm.

With Sully having crashed to 69-5, Briggs made a patient 64 not out from 75 balls, taking his side to 190-6 as Craig Palmer added an unbeaten 31 at better than a run-a-ball.

Doug Macdonald (3-41) made early inroads before Shiva Aruna (3-22) furthered the Camels’ plight, and it was only a fine 55 from Simon Hards which allowed them the relative respectability of being 123 all out.

It was a third title success for Sulhamstead, who are expected to be placed in Division Four when they switch to the Thames Valley League next summer.

Rahim Khan (68) and Adam Davidson (58no) were among the runs as West Reading (247-5) stayed second with a 137-run thrashing of Berkshire County Sports (110). Adeel Razaq (6-25) was the destroyer-in-chief for Wests.

Third-placed Peppard Stoke Row eased to a 10-wicket success at home to Ruislip Victoria. Dan Hayden (3-19) and Alfie Clifton (3-33) knocked over the visitors for 114, before Fergus Nutt’s unbeaten 74 from 71 balls sped PSR to victory in 21 overs.

Ant Cluett (4-20 and 46no) starred with bat and ball as Crowthorne & Crown Wood (134-2) eased to an eight-wicket win at Woodcote.

Ryan Lennard made 80 for Woodcote, but Cluett and Mike Brundish (58no) made light work of the chase.

Woodley recorded back-to-back wins by securing a thrilling three-wicket triumph at Welford Park.

Jaimie Cork’s sensational 73 not out from 70 balls rescued the hosts from 79-7 and allowed them to total 188-8, captain Kashif Ali claiming 3-31.

James Barrett (3-31) and Alex Hutchinson (3-32) kept Welford in the game, but Ali’s quick-fire 63 from 48 deliveries proved decisive, Woodley reaching 192-7 with 17 balls in hand.

A wonderful spell by off spinner Andy Johnson (6-31) inspired Division One leaders Mortimer West End to a straight-forward six-wicket win against Sulhamstead 2nds.

Jason Doole top scored with 68 in Sully’s 159, but West End skipper Nick Kingston (59no) sped his side to victory.

Second-placed Emmbrook & Bearwood (69-3) cruised to a seven-wicket win against a depleted Peppard Stoke Row 2nds, Mark Cobb claiming 3-12 for the Bears.

Bob Bolton took 4-14 as Bradfield (117-2) kept their hopes of a top-two finish in tact with a facile eight-wicket victory against Ibis Mapledurham (116). Dan Filmer (46no) and Ahmed Khan (45no) ensured the run chase was completed without a problem.

Chris Walsh made a brilliant 133 from only 124 balls, but Goring (301-6) had to settle for a winning draw against West Reading 2nds (218-8). Usman Ali (77) played a captain’s innings to salvage a share of the spoils for Wests.

Nick Timms blasted 82 not out from 68 balls, but it could not stave off a six-wicket defeat for Farley Hill (185-4) against Checkendon (186-4). Manpreet Singh out-did Timms by smashing 102 not out, an innings which included 10 boundaries and five maximums.

Division Two table-toppers Waltham St Lawrence (129-8) were given a scare by Ashley Gander (4-39) before they finally beat Warfield (128) by two wickets.

Muhammed Hafeez hit a staggering 14 6s in his memorable 149 not out from 65 balls, but second-placed Shinfield (298-5 declared in 40 overs) could only secure the winning draw against Earley (117-9).

Skipper Stuart Barrable struck 62 from 51 balls as Twyford & Ruscombe (178-6) had the better of a draw at Crowthorne & Crown Wood (132-8), Shiva Nagam bagging 4-19 for Twyford.

Alasdair Mortiboys made 44 not out as Hawley (72-0) crushed Stratfield Turgis (71) by 10 wickets, while Gowtham Payavula took 5-17 and Upendra Deshpande scored 52 not out as Woodley 2nds (91-3) beat Emmbrook & Bearwood 2nds (90) by seven wickets.

A sensational 99 from Aqeel Butt helped Division Three front-runners West Reading 3rds earn a winning draw at home to Knowl Hill.

Wests slipped to 137-7, but Butt and Inshaf Akram (54no) ensured they reached 251-8, and despite fine innings from Mohammed Arshad (57) and Fasul Nufail (56), Hill could only reach 190-8 in reply.

Purley on Thames 3rds pulled off a brilliant run chase to snatch a thriller with Bradfield 2nds by one wicket.

Jon Bartlett (90) and David Brown (52) scored the majority of Bradfield’s 203-5, but Krish Weerasamy’s 65 was key as the Potters’ last pair held their nerve. Brown (4-43) was the pick of the Bradfield attack.

Peppard Stoke Row 3rds conceded their home game with Welford Park 2nds, while Mortimer could not raise a side for their trip to second-bottom Ruislip Victoria 2nds.

Shinfield 2nds (79-3) remain favourites for the Division Four title after they enjoyed a seven-wicket cruise at home to West Reading 4ths (78).

Second-placed Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds overcame a minor wobble to secure a four-wicket victory against Mortimer West End 2nds.

The visitors were shot out for just 87, but nearly got back into the contest thanks to a fine five-over spell from Iqbal Pewakar (4-10). However, the Crows were able to cross the finish line by reaching 89-6.

Digivjay Singh made an unbeaten 58 to keep Sulhamstead 3rds’ hopes of a top-two finish alive following their six-wicket win at Binfield 3rds.

The home side were bowled out for 131, and Singh’s effort steered Sully to victory with almost 18 overs to spare.

Ed Davies hit a rapid 51 to help Waltham St Lawrence 2nds (94-4) seal a six-wicket success against Falkland Development (93).

With Emmbrook & Bearwood 3rds pulling out of the league, Sandhurst 2nds collected 20 points in the Bye Week Challenge.