WEST Reading closed in on the Premier Division runners-up spot with a comfortable 110-run win at Sandhurst, writes Richard Ashton.

Zafar Ali top scored with 47 not out as Wests totalled 190-8 in their 45 overs, Ted Batchelor claiming 3-28.

The Camels’ reply never got going after Adeel Razaq (3-11) ran through the top order, Sandhurst shot out for 80.

Peppard Stoke Row could still sneak past West Reading after they won a topsy-turvy game at Crowthorne & Crown Wood by 118 runs.

The visitors were in all sorts of trouble after crashing to 60-6, but a steady innings of 40 by Paddy Hennessy, aided by an astounding 99 not out from 82 balls by number eight Matt Hopper – which included nine maximums – dragged them to 196 all out. Jeff Cluett was the pick of the attack with 5-33.

The Crows’ were then blown away in reply, falling to 27-7 as paceman Alfie Clifton (6-12) ran riot, and they were eventually skittle for just 78.

Champions Sulhamstead made it 13 wins from 14 games with a comprehensive 240-run annihilation of rock bottom Woodley.

Ryan Brown (129) made his maiden Sully century and shared an opening stand of 202 with Chris Warne (75), before Marc Thompson (52no from 26 balls) and Shiva Aruna (42no from 18) piled on the misery and led their team to a colossal 337-2.

Woodley never looked like getting close and Matt Gill’s 5-30 played a key part in the hosts being knocked over for 97.

Paul Knox (93 and 4-27) starred with bat and ball as Woodcote collected a first win in eight weeks with an 84-run triumph at Welford Park.

Ian Herrington bagged 5-27 as Cote were bowled out for 207, but fellow spinner James Worsfold trumped that with 5-20 as Welford were dismissed for 123, Joe Lawrence top scoring with 44.

Sak Bhatti hit a six to win the game by one wicket as Ruislip Victoria edged a classic at Berkshire County Sports.

Captain Babar Butt made 48 as BCS were bowled out for 153, but Mohammed Farooq (4-44) dragged them back into the game before Bhatti’s heroics sealed the deal and took his side to 159-9.

Emmbrook & Bearwood moved back to the top of Division One with a 143-run thrashing of Goring.

Richard Cole made an unbeaten 41 to help the Bears post 202-9, and he then took 4-20 as Goring were routed for 59, Mark Cobb (5-21) helping himself to a five-for.

A fine 80 not out led second-placed Bradfield (184-4) to a six-wicket win at Sulhamstead 2nds.

Tim Benham (56) and Vinoth Palanisamy (45no) helped Sully reach 180-5, but Will Nevill (55) was also in good form as Bradfield reached their target with 20 balls to spare.

Farley Hill climbed out of the bottom two with a dramatic two-wicket win at West Reading 2nds.

Nick Timms claimed 5-30 as Wests were kept to 165, Usman Ali top scoring with 51. Farley slipped to 62-6, but a wonderful knock by Michael Sheridan (55no), aided by Timms (45), edged them over the line.

Checkendon boosted their hopes of a top-two finish by securing a winning draw at Ibis Mapledurham.

Manpreet Singh’s 79 was the cornerstone of Checks’ 246-8, while Alex Crawford chipped in with 49 before taking 4-15 in Ibis’s response of 179-9. Dave Drury top scored with 43.

Lowly Peppard Stoke Row 2nds stunned former leaders Mortimer West End – who now sit third – by having the better of a draw.

Dom Hall hit 67 for PSR, but a fine spell from Nick Kingston (4-33) resulted in the hosts being bowled out for 224.

Gavin Stamp’s 47 proved useful for West End, but Matt Kimber’s 3-33 meant they had to hang on at 194-9.

Ankush Ghandi blasted a staggering 209 from 127 balls – his fourth century in seven innings – as Division Two leaders Waltham St Lawrence dominated their draw with Hawley.

Chris Sharpe added an unbeaten 68 as the hosts declared on 336-2 in 42 overs, but Hawley survived in 131-7.

Anuraag Shukla (4-19) helped second-placed Shinfield (51-4) race to a six-wicket win at home to Woodley 2nds (49).

Earley (116) won a low-scoring thriller by nine runs at Warfield (107), while Adam Henley’s unbeaten 86 led Twyford & Ruscombe to a five-wicket success against Emmbrook & Bearwood 2nds. Steve Bendall made 88 for the Bears, while Twyford’s Chandra Cherukuri took 4-52.

Nirav Upadhyay’s super spell of 5-19 inspired Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2nds (125-2) to an eight-wicket success at Stratfield Turgis.

Trevor Clacey made 65 not out for the hosts, but opener Julian O’Loughlin responed with 64 as the Crows marched home.

Julian Fernando’s 42 helped Knowl Hill (194-6) leapfrog Welford Park 2nds into third in Division Three following a 60-run home win against Welford Park 2nds (134).

Alfie Jordan (4-15) and Mick Chard (4-17) starred for Peppard Stoke Row 3rds (158-7) as they won a tight game with Bradfield 2nds (157) by three wickets.

PSR were in trouble in the chase at 91-7, but James Hern’s unbeaten 43 proved vital, along with captain Rob Dyer’s 33 not out, the pair adding 67 to win the game.

Mortimer conceded their game with Sandhurst 2nds, and Purley on Thames 3rds did the same at Ruislip Victoria 2nds.

Division Four leaders Shinfield 2nds were shocked by 72 runs at Mortimer West End 2nds.

Mike Cook (94) and Mark Wheeler (54no) led MWE to 231-8, Saket Koti impressing with 4-41 for the visitors.

Aside from skipper Hassan Safday (53no), however, their batting failed them and they were dismissed for 159.

Sulhamstead 3rds (117-1) could still claim the crown after they eased past Waltham St Lawrence 2nds (113) by nine wickets, Bob Norris making 60 not out.

David Harrison top scored with 51 as Falkland Development (212-9) beat West Reading 4ths (150) by 62 runs, Imran Zaman’s (85) best efforts not enough for Wests.

Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds conceded their Bye Week Challenge fixture against West Reading 3rds.