READING CC endured a horrific afternoon as they were bowled out for just 33 in a 152-run defeat at home to Thames Valley League Division One leaders Cookham Dean, writes Richard Ashton.

The hosts made the perfect start as Shahbaz Choudry bowled Cookham skipper Ben Millar for a duck, only for Patrick Castleden (38) and Nadir Mehmood (49) to stabilise the innings.

Qasim Ali accounted for Castleden as he was caught by Max Uttley, and the fielder then turned destroyer-in-chief with the ball as he removed Mehmood – stumped by Sukhi Kang – South African Chris Marrow and ex-Reading man Tom Fray, the latter duo both caught behind.

Ali (2-66 from 19 overs) then had Jonathan Parker caught by Uttley (3-47 from 17) before Yasir Qureshi’s useful 32 from 31 balls was ended when he was dismissed for obstructing the field.

However, Reading’s hopes of skittling the Cookham lower order were halted by Sri Lankan Sahan Nanayakkara (21no) and Rory Millar (15no), with the visitors ending their 52 overs on 185-7.

The Reading reply was a disaster, starting with Ali being run out, Nanayakkara bowling Pav Chima and then having Tariq Khan caught by Rory Millar.

Billy Rogers was bowled for a duck by Wasim Ahmed and Nanayakkara then trapped Sam Gemmill and skipper Mitun Patel to leave Reading in dire straits at 4-6.

Firaz Amjad ended as second top scorer with six before he was caught by Castleden off Ahmed (2-19), and Nanayakkara bowled Ian Slatcher and Choudhry for 0 to make it 14-9.

Kang (16) provided some resistance along with last man Uttley, but he was eventually bowled by Nanayakkara (7-10) as Reading were dismissed for just 33. The basement boys are now 31 points adrift of safety ahead of their trip to Boyne Hill on Saturday.

Shiva Aruna enjoyed his return to Sulhamstead as the all-rounder inspired Reading 2nds to a 74-run Division 4a victory at Sulhamstead.

The hosts chose to field first and dismissed Rahul Bharti, Michael Griesel and Aruna to leave Reading wobbling on 51-3.

A crucial stand of 89 between Sunny Jheeta (45) and Pranav Bharadawaj (48) put the visitors in charge, but when they both fell in the space of four runs, the game was back in the balance with Reading 144-5.

Skipper Vikramjit Sidhu was next to go, stumped by Aaron Briggs off Marc Thompson, and when Phil Braithwaite (3-54) knocked over Chris Priddle and Dani Katuri, Reading were 191-8.

However, ex-Reading Blue Coat School duo Phil Brennan (57 from 48 balls) and Hamish Scott put on a vital 53 for the ninth wicket, the stand ended when Craig Palmer (3-56) had the latter caught by Steve Belcher.

Brennan was run out off the last ball of the innings, but Reading had put themselves in the game by posting 251, opening bowler Matt Gill ending with 2-53 from his 15 overs.

The away side took the old ball and it did not take long for Shreyas Narayanasamy to dismiss Braithwaite, Aruna then trapping Jason Doole lbw to make it 9-2.

Belcher and Briggs were both caught off Aruna (4-46 off 13 overs), and when he trapped Digvijay Singh in front, Sully were in all sorts of bother at 52-5.

Aruna ran Chris Mercer out 12 runs later as things got worse for the home side, although Thompson (57) and Jamie Seward (41) then put on 88 for the seventh wicket.

After taking the new ball, it was Scott (2-43) who dismissed the pair, and Brennan then came on to remove Gill and Graham Smith as Sulhamstead – who visit Theale & Tilehurst on Saturday – were bowled out for 177.

In Division 9a, Reading 4ths conceded against Newbury 3rds.