Jack Beaven proved the bowling hero with brilliant figures of 5-15 as the visitors were routed for just 76, before Praful Waghela (48*) and Martin Andersson (21*) sealed an emphatic win in less than 12 overs.

Hartley was delighted with his side and saluted their fielding performance.

He gushed: “I think we bowled and fielded really well - there were three excellent catches and we were quite clinical in chasing down a low total.

“Sukhi (Kang) caught their overseas with a really good catch first ball and it’s the catching and fielding which made the difference.” The game had to be shortened to a 44-39 over split due to overnight rain, and after winning the toss, Beaven and Andersson bowled beautifully to reduce Chesham to 5-3.

They never recovered from that poor start and only some stubborn resistance from Matthew Rance (32) - who was eventually removed by Hartley - helped the visitors avoid complete humiliation.

Amardeep Dosanjh fell early in the reply before Waghela and Andersson guided their side to victory, and Hartley admitted he was impressed with the way his side chased the total down.

He said: “I was really happy to do it because with small totals funny things can happen, but Praful and Martin played it really well.” The result keeps unbeaten Reading top of the table - 18 points clear of Horspath - and Hartley said the club is moving in the right direction.

He added: “The atmosphere at the club is great - there’s a good team spirit and our colts are getting great coaching from Praful and some of the first team.

“The interaction between different sides is good and there is a brilliant attendance at nets.

“The volunteers who give up their time to do the pitch and run the bar are vital and the wicket has been excellent this year.” Hartley is also delighted his players are receiving Berkshire honours after Andrew Rishton made his debut this week, while Kang, Beaven and Andersson have all previously been in county squads.

He said: “These guys are Reading boys and Berkshire boys and moving forward it would be nice to see them in strong sides.

“We have seven or eight colts in our first team and that is what we want.” Reading travel to third-placed Shipton-under-Wychwood on Saturday and Hartley warned against complacency.

He said: “All the sides in the league are capable of beating one another but we are confident.” TABLE-TOPPING Reading 2nds slipped to a first defeat of the season as their nearest rivals Chesham 2nds beat them by six wickets in Thames Valley League Division 3b.

Reading were asked to bat at The Meadow but suffered an early blow when Sanjit Jheeta was dismissed by Ashley Turney to leave them 21-1.

Firaz Amjad (46) and Qasim Ali (20) steadied the ship until the latter’s dismissal heralded something of a collapse from 67-1 to 93-5.

Phillip Brennan made 24 but the middle and lower order failed to fire as wickets continued to fall and Reading eventually subsided to 167 all out.

Samuel Rance (3-40) and Umar Aslam (3-34) were the standout performers for Chesham, while Turney (2-21) and Matthew Yeabsley (2-25) also impressed for the seond-placed side.

The visitors required early wickets to get back in to the game but Chesham openers Peter Clifford (45) and Edward Turner (59) shared a century stand to put their side in firm control.

Jheeta removed Clifford after he was caught by wicket keeper Amjad, and Ali then gave Reading a sniff of victory by taking three wickets to leave Chesham 154-4.

However Oliver Turner (43*) played a captain’s innings to settle any nerves and guided his side to their target from 34.3 overs.

The defeat cuts Reading’s lead at the head of the table to five points and they host mid-table Marlow Park on Saturday.

Reading 3rds remain in a relegation battle after they failed to chase down a seemingly underpar score at home to promotion-chasing Boyne Hill 2nds in Division 5b.

The visitors won the toss and chose to bat, but Reading appeared to be in command after dismissing their opponents for just 134.

However the Reading reply never got going and they collapsed to just 92 all out in less than 33 overs.

Reading slip a place to seventh in the table and travel to fellow strugglers Royal Ascot 2nds in what could be a pivotal match on Saturday.

Reading 4ths’ match at Newbury 3rds in Division 8a was abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch.

The cancellation means Reading remain in mid-table and they host Cove Academy this Saturday.