WEST Reading took another step toward a maiden Berkshire Cricket League Premier Division title as they dismantled lowly Stoke Row by nine wickets.

West's captain Imran Razaq inserted Row after winning the toss, but teenage openers Will Bishop and Harry Jordan eased Stoke to 30-0 after six overs.

A leading edge from Jordan was pouched by Adnan Naseer off his own bowling and a flurry of wickets left the Falcons 55-4.

Sam Boughton (35) and Rich Ashton (38) hit back for Stoke Row - despite the latter being struck on the head by a Sultan Khan bouncer - but the re-introduction of Hafeez Ul-Wahab tilted the balance firmly in favour of title favourites Reading.

The skilful seamer knocked Boughton's off stump out of the ground to end an 85-run fifth wicket partnership, and off spinner Adam Davidson bowled Ashton four balls later to leave Stoke 140-6.

Ul-Wahab (6-19) then ripped out Stoke Row's tail as the Falcons were dismissed for 164.

In reply, Davidson (61*) and Khan (63) were never in trouble on an outstanding wicket.

Row's sole scalp came from 15-year-old left arm spinner Chris Humphreys, who enticed the formidable Khan into offering an edge to Charles Lamprecht at gully.

However, the breakthrough merely hastened the conclusion of the game, with Rahim Khan entering the fray and bludgeoning a brutal unbeaten 31 from 23 balls as Reading continued their seemingly unstoppable push for the trophy.

A big first innings total from Checkendon, led by a hundred from Vikas Chib, was enough to see them pick up a winning draw at Peppard.

Mo Khan and Roy Hayden picked up early wickets, but a massive 157-run third wicket partnership from Chib (108) and Ashish Talreja (77) saw Checkendon post 230-2 after 40 overs.

Late wickets tumbled, but runs also flowed, as the away side finished on 274-9 after their 45 overs. Hayden the pick of the bowlers with 5-62.

Despite the early loss of Mick Chard Jnr, Peppard raced out of the blocks led by a quickfire 46 off 31 balls by Senthil Muniasamy.

Andy Watts added 85 for Peppard, but a middle-order collapse made victory almost impossible for the hosts.

A lower order stand of 59 between Ronnie Brock (42*) and Hugh Asquith (22*) meant Peppard secured some valuable points in the draw.

Elsewhere, Sulhamstead kept their title hopes alive with a 64-run win over Mortimer West End.

Mark Godfrey (57) top scored in Sully's 183-9, and Marc Thompson took 4-17 to help dismiss Mortimer for 119.

Paul Knox continued his superb form with another century for Woodcote, but it was not enough to lead them to victory over South East Reading.

Knox blasted 112 off just 25 overs, and Will Macdonald (42) and Steve Henderson (41) were also amongst the runs as Woodcote declared on 269-8 from 43 overs.

But Reading dug in to frustrate Woodcote and dent their title ambitions, closing on 180-7.

Mohammed Shakeel and Usman Asif led BCS Grosvenor to a 36-run victory over Woodley.

Hamid Sana (58) and Saqib Bhatti (49) were the top scorers in Grosvenor's 274-8, with Kashif Ali (4-25) the pick of the bowlers.

Zahid Abbassi (86) and Naveed Asghar (50) both hit half centuries in response, but Shakeel (5-63) and Asif (4-34) ensured a Grosvenor win.

Division One

SANDHURST continued their march toward the Division One title with a convincing 136-run victory over Ibis Mapledurham.

The leaders started in a free-scoring manner notching 79 off the first eight overs before losing their first wicket - Andy Tutty for 40.

His partner Adam Birch continued to score, albeit more slowly, and would eventually fall for 72.

Mark Feeney (71) then anchored the innings and others scored around him as Sandhurst declared on 240-7 afer 43 overs.

The new ball was taken by Aron Shallom and Steven Phipps and neither disappointed with Shallom taking two wickets and Phipps' swing bowling giving him figures of 4-33.

Martin Pharo and Ross Fagan provided able support for the opening bowlers and Sandhurst eventually skittled the visitors out for 104.

Elsewhere in the division, Crown Wood suffered a five-wicket defeat to Stratfield Turgis.

Ravi Godbole made 59 in Crown Wood's 173 all out, but they could not defend the total despite Nadeer Mohamed's 4-52.

Ross Ditchburn and Pete Jameson both made 49 in Farley Hill's 110-run win over Goring.

The duo helped Farley to 215-7 and Trevor Clacey then took over taking 5-30 as Goring were dismissed for 105.

Bradfield lost to Ruislip Victoria by 142 runs after being bowled out for 110 in pursuit of 252-7.

Division Two

CROWTHORNE clinched promotion from Division Two after beating Emmbrook & Bearwood by four wickets on Saturday.

Matt Dozier (53) and Aneel Sabir (77) got the bulk of the runs as Emmbrook were bowled out for 214, batting first.

The leaders did not have it all their own way in the chase, but Richard Barron (71) and Jeff Cluett (45) saw them to victory.

Nearest rivals West Reading 2nds suffered a one-wicket loss to Shinfield in a low-scoring clash.

Arif Hussain top scored with 42 as Reading were bowled out for just 99, with Richard Madgwick (4-51) the pick of the bowlers.

Madgwick then led the way with the bat too, scoring 49 to help his side scrape home with one wicket in hand.

Callum Ferguson hit a brilliant 112 to lead Mortimer West End 2nds to an eight-wicket win over Sulhamstead 2nds.

Elsewhere, Warfield successfully defended 131 to beat Peppard 2nds by eight runs.