READING CC's hopes of climbing off the foot of Division One of the Thames Valley League suffered another set-back last Saturday when they failed to win their bottom-of-the-table clash with Henley 2nds at Sonning Lane.

But they put up a spirited effort, finishing on 221-8 from 48 overs as they chased the visitors' 235-8 off 52.

Securing just nine points compared to their opponents' 14, Reading now trail Henley, the side immediately above them, by 35 points and third-bottom Slough 2nds by 40 points with five fixtures remaining.

Skipper Firaz Amjad elected to field first when winning the toss and it looked a good decision when Henley faltered from 94-1 to 132-6 despite a half-century from Tom Oldershaw and 39 by Will Legg.

However, Henley improved their position with a seventh-wicket stand of 70 between Nathan Hopkins, who went on to make70, and Liam Hilditch (27).

The eight wickets were shared by Phil Brennan with 2-36 off 13 overs, Ian Slatcher 2-53 (12), Max Uttley 2-72 (13) and Shiva Aruna 2-20 (4).

Despite losing Pav Chima for nine, Reading made steady progress with useful contributions from Suki Kang (63), Amjad (30), Shahbaz Choudhry (20) and Billy Rogers, who hammered 57 off 54 balls.

But the lower order fell cheaply and Reading came up just short of a game they badly needed to win.

This Saturday they visit third-placed Stoke Green, whose last league defeat was on May 26.

Reading 2nds did well to bowl out Henley 3rds for 135 in their Division 4a game at Nettlebed, only to crumble to 110 themselves as 15-year-old Jonathan Trist followed up his knock of 27 with outstanding figures of 9-65.

Dani Katuri (3-28) and Rahul Bharti (3-24) were the pick of the Reading bowlers.

In Division 6b, Reading 3rds won by 69 runs away to Cove 3rds, scoring 187-9 (Vishaal Kumar 46, Chris Dishington 31no, Graham Cassie 21) before dismissing their hosts for 118 with Ollie Waterhouse taking 6-42 off 10.3 overs.

Reading 4ths crashed to a six-wicket defeat at the hands of unbeaten Division 9a leaders Finchampstead 5ths.

Nat Narayanasamy scored 87 in Reading's total of 201-9 before seeing son Shashank Narayanasamy take 3-37 in Finch's reply of 202-4 in 37 overs.