TWYFORD & Ruscombe kept their Division One promotion hopes alive with a 44-run victory at Crowthorne & Crown Wood 2nds, writes Richard Ashton.

Skipper Shiva Nagam led the way with 54 as Twyford were bowled out for 188, Dan Partridge bagging 3-49.

The Crows never really got going in their chase as Nagam (3-39) completed a fine all-round performance, and with Marc Teal (3-11) polishing off the tail end, the hosts were bowled out for 144.

Second-placed Stratfield Turgis remain favourites to snatch the second promotion spot after pulling off a fine five-wicket win at home to West Reading 2nds.

Laurie Figzal took 4-60 for the hosts, but useful knocks from Waseen Ameen (64) and Imran Zaman (53) helped Wests post a seemingly competitive 252.

However, Kishore Sotuku (47), Abishek Singh (46) and Martin Sandland (40) were all among the runs as Turgis chased the score with more than 10 overs to spare.

Nick Sedgwick made a magnificent 144 not out to lead Peppard Stoke Row 2nds to a nine-wicket victory at Woodley 2nds.

Fasul Nufail blasted 58 from just 34 balls and Pradeep Kadloor added the same amount as the hosts totalled 257-9, Roy Hayden (3-44) extending his lead as the BCL’s all-time leading wicket taker to 948.

The PSR reply began superbly as Hugh Asquith (57) and Sedgwick put on 145, and with Gerry Bacon (44no) – who earlier took a remarkable five stumpings and a catches behind the stumps – adding support, the visitors prevailed with seven balls to spare.

Second-bottom Earley kept their survival dreams alive with a 105-run win against Waltham St Lawrence.

Owen Bye (69) and Ollie Johnson (50) were the chief run-scorers as Earley racked up 260-7, and Dave Mapes then took 5-18 as the Saints were knocked over for 155. Tamer Sultan (50)and Shahid Khan (42) had earlier provided early runs for Waltham.

Rock bottom Hawley conceded their game against Shinfield.

Premier Division champions Checkendon showed no signs of letting up as they beat basement boys Farley Hill by 36 runs.

Matt Heslop made 94 as Checks were bowled out for 247, Michael Sheridan taking 3-58.

In reply, Farley Hill started well with Ross Ditchburn scoring 43, but a fine spell from debutant Mayank Kedia (4-39) ensured the home side were bowled out for 211.

Former Finchampstead star Rehan Akram smashed a magnificent 161 as second-placed BCS dominated their draw at home to relegation-threatened Ibis Mapledurham.

Akram, Gunni Asif (59) and Mohsin Asif (53) put on a superb display as BCS reached 319-8 in their 45 overs, but Ibis held firm to close on 110-9, Akram taking 3-15 and Ali Naeem 3-25.

Ashok Singh took a staggering 8-23 to keep Mortimer West End in the promotion picture as they beat Goring by four wickets.

The home side were routed for just 72, and despite Pete Slade’s (5-13) best efforts in the reply, West End were able to chase the score in 21.1 overs.

Will Macdonald helped save Woodcote from potential relegation with a wonderful spell which helped his home side beat Sandhurst by seven wickets.

Adam Birch (94) looked set to see the visitors to an imposing score, but Macdonald (6-28) turned the screws to restrict Sandhurst to 187-9.

Paul Knox was then in magnificent form in reply, making a sparkling 102, and with JP Brouard unbeaten on 44, Cote were able to get over the line in 31.5 overs.

In Division Two, champions Shinfield 2nds eased to an eight-wicket victory at home to Sulhamstead 3rds.

Madhur Sharma continued his fine form with 47 from 44 balls as Sully were bowled out for 111, Naqash Tahir (4-18) the destroyer-in-chief, and the hosts cruised home in a mere 14.4 overs.

West Reading 3rds remain second despite losing to Knowl Hill by one run.

Loanee Arshad Mohamed’s 70 helped Hill to 197-6 despite Saif Khan’s 4-36, and while Fahad Raja (68) continued his magnificent season, Wests were bowled out for 196 as Alex Francis took 3-26.

Third-placed Warfield also won a thriller as they kept their promotion hopes alive with an 11-run victory at Welford Park 2nds.

Mike Harrison took 4-35 as Welford kept their visitors to 232-8, and with Will Herrington smashing 82 from 30 balls, the Park were well in the ascendancy.

However, the opener had to retire out to fulfil his night shift as a newly-qualified policeman, and with Ashley Gander then taking 4-72, Warfield were able to snatch victory as Welford could only reach 221.

Sachin Deshmane made 61 for Purley on Thames 3rds (210-7), but it was not enough to avoid a seven-wicket defeat against Wokingham 6ths, for whom Steve Smith (63no) and Prasad Kulkarni (66no) made the run chase straight-forward.

Scott Butler took 6-34 as Binfield 3rds (87-1) leapfrogged West Reading 4ths (86) into second place in Division Three.

Champions Mortimer West End 2nds eased to a 111-run victory over neighbours Mortimer.

Andy Hobart (65) and George Williams (60no) were the mainstays of MWE’s 240-4 in their 40 overs, and with Mark Wheeler taking 3-30, Mortimer were dismissed for 129, despite the best efforts of Craig Cox (30no).

Shinfield 3rds beat Crowthorne & Crown Wood 3rds by 33 runs. Liam Prowse (60) and Dylan Wood (53no) starred as Shinfield made 217-5, and despite an exhilarating 75 from Shashank Adapa (75), the Crows were bowled out for 184.

Falkland Development conceded their game at Earley 2nds.