IT WAS a bad day for Reading 3rds in Division 5b as they were rolled over for a paltry 68 in 30.2 overs by Royal Ascot 2nds with Saeed Ahmed taking 5-28, Jason Carr 3-7 and Joshua O’Shea 2-26, writes Oscar Beardmore-Gray.

The visitors needed just 21.3 overs to record an eight-wicket win with Howard Green making 28 not out and Jeremy Wing 27.

Sonning 2nds fell to defeat at Bagshot 2nds by six wickets.

Batting first Sonning made 154 but the hosts easily surpassed that, knocking the total off in 31 overs.

Kidmore End remain in the Division 2a relegation zone despite a battling draw against Tring Park 2nds.

Set the daunting task of chasing 273 after Shelvin Gumbs’ 129, Kidmore applied themselves well.

Opener Tom Sheldon made 62 while Guy Ashby held the innings together with an unbeaten 77, taking Kidmore’s total to 218-7 to secure a draw.

Kidmore End visit Chenies & Latimer this Saturday.

Hurst secured a third Division 2b win of the campaign with a narrow 19-run success at home to Burnham 2nds.

Phil Higgs top scored with 46 for the hosts, while Alex Kayser (39) also played a useful innings in their total of 193-8.

Burnham suffered a disastrous start as they lost both openers cheaply, and with Lewis Smith claiming 3-45, they were eventually dismissed for 174, Omar Sidique playing something of a lone hand with a gutsy 74 not out.

Hurst entertain Thatcham Town on Saturday (1pm).

Imran Malik struck a stunning 107 from just 90 balls to inspire Wargrave to a 61-run victory at Beaconsfield.

Neal Robinson (63no) and Luke Taylor (43) were also among the runs as the visitors smashed their way to 276-3 declared after 44 overs.

Chris Thomas made 67 in reply, but Jack Clark (4-32) and Martin Smith (4-55) did the damage as Beaconsfield were bowled out for 215.

Sixth-placed Wargrave host Burnham 2nds on Saturday.

Sonning played out an agonising draw against Reading 2nds in Division 3a.

Both Duncan Parr (92) and Zahid Mohammed (97) endured 90s heartache as Sonning powered to 260-5.

However, they could not bowl Reading out, as Asim Zaka (102) – in just his fourth game for the club – and Tom Holmes (71) showed their class.

Reading finished on 241-9 despite 6-54 from Raja Rafaqat.

Purley-on-Thames beat Cove 2nds by a convincing 74 runs. Purley posted 206-9 off 52 overs with Patrick Allen (53), Robbie Jeffrey (51) and Paul Reber (56) making strong contributions and Cove were subsequently bowled out for 132 from 38 overs, Caleb Maycock returning 6-50.

In Division 4b, Theale and Tilehurst lost by three wickets at Fleet.

Batting first T&T could only muster 131, although they did pick up seven of the hosts’ wickets, Ram Sankaran taking 3-25.

Wargrave 2nds remain top of the Division 6b table despite their game against Wokingham 3rds being rained off without a ball being bowled.

Purley-on-Thames 2nds lost a close game at Royal Ascot 3rds by 26 runs.

Batting first, Ascot posted 157 with Barry Carter picking up 4-37, but Purley slumped from 103-4 to 131 all out despite 47 from Gautham Kamath.

Theale and Tilehurst 2nds held on for a draw at Aldershot 3rds.

The hosts amassed 215-6 with tidy bowling from James Bozarth (2-56) and Jared Mizen (2-28) before Theale responded with 195-7, Mohammed Jamil making an unbeaten 51.

Hurst 2nds were thrashed by 205 runs at home to Cove 3rds.

Tim Everitt took 6-43 for the hosts as they bowled Cove out for 209, but Hurst then collapsed to just 44 all out themselves.

In Division 7a, Kidmore End 2nds pulled off an impressive chase to beat Theale and Tilehurst 3rds by six wickets.

Batting first T&T totalled 206-6 with Khadim Aslam top scoring with 46.

However, Kidmore End chased the total down in 29.2 overs thanks to Chris Pigden (64) and Oliver Johnston (65).

Sonning 3rds (221-8 declared) cruised to an emphatic 114-run win against Eversley 4ths (107) in Division 8a.

Kidmore End 3rds suffered a seven-wicket defeat against Boyne Hill 4ths in Division 9a – despite Greg Clark hitting a career best 146 not out as Kidmore reached 236-8.

Boyne Hill replied emphatically, however, comfortably eclipsing the target for the loss of only three wickets.

The game between Wargrave 3rds and Yateley 4ths was abandoned.