His side bounced back from a brace of defeats in fine fashion with a superb bowling performance which restricted the hosts to 194-8.

Jack Beaven led the way with 3-46, while Khalid Malik (2-27) and Andrew Rishton (2-38) also starred.

Although Reading were wobbling at 56-3, a brilliant 97 run partnership between opener Tom Fray (69) and Curran Gaur (75*) took their side to the edge of victory and they picked up the win with 15 balls to spare.

And captain Hartley was delighted with the side, saying: “I’m very pleased with the result and I thought we bowled and fielded with great discipline.

“Tom and Curran shared a great partnership and it was a great all round performance.”

Reading host third-placed Amersham on Saturday (11am), knowing that a win could all but seal a top two place and promotion with two games remaining.

But Hartley warned: “I think Amersham are a good side with a couple of key batsmen and three or four decent bowlers.

“As with a lot of other sides in this league they might have to look to find a fifth bowler but I think they’re one of the better sides which is born out by their league position.

“It’s an important game for us because if we beat them we’re going to be about 30 points ahead with two games to go and it would be a significant mess up (to not go up from there).’’

• QASIM Ali was Reading 2nds’ hero as they beat Beaconsfield 2nds by 62 runs at Sonning Lane.

The hosts laboured to 160-7 after winning the toss and choosing to bat in Thames Valley League Division 3b, but Ali’s magical spell of 5-22 helped skittle Beaconsfield for a mere 98.

Reading 2nds travel to Chenies & Latimer on Saturday.

• A MATCH-WINNING unbeaten 67 from Reading 3rds’ batsman Chris Reynard guided his side to an unlikely 71 run win against Teddington Town 2nds in Division 5b.

His outstanding effort helped pull Reading from the wreckage of 48-5 up to 144 all out, and Reynard then followed up a brilliant all round display with figures of 3-12 in the Teddington reply.

He was aided by Raja Khan (4-12) as Reading pulled off a remarkable comeback win.

• READING 4ths suffered a miserable day at the office as they crashed to a 196 run hammering against Yateley 3rds in Division 8a.

The hosts clattered 256-2 declared in just 40 overs, and then ran through the Reading batting line up to dismiss them for just 60.