READING CC narrowly failed to pull off their great escape as they suffered relegation from Division One of the Thames Valley League by just one point, writes Richard Ashton.

The Sonning Lane side recorded a fourth victory in their last five games with a four-run success at Falkland, but Slough 2nds claimed four points from their defeat to Stoke Green which ultimately kept them a solitary point above Reading.

The visitors were asked to bat after Falkland won the toss, and they made a horror start when Sunny Jheeta was trapped lbw by Bruce Martin for a duck.

Tariq Khan and Firaz Amjad rebuilt the innings with a second-wicket partnership, but when the influential Billy Rogers and Sukhi Kang fell for single figures, the writing seemed to be on the wall at 89-5.

Pav Chima and Curran Gaur fell to make it 119-7, but a key 63-run stand between Ian Slatcher (43) and Qasim Ali (38no) rejuvenated Reading and enabled them to post a competitive 217-9 from their 50 overs.

Jimmy Shaw (3-31) and Daminda Kologula (3-34) were the stand-out bowlers for the home side.

Rogers (3-28) hauled his side back into the contest with a superb 10-over spell which reduced Falkland to 38-3, and when Max Uttley knocked over Ben Piper and Jim Ettridge, the score was 69-5 and Reading were on top.

The hosts hit back, though, with skipper Jason Williams and Shaw (46) putting on 62 until the former was bowled by Ali.

Slatcher bowled Charlie Dale for a duck to make it 133-7, but Falkland refused to give up with former Reading captain Bobby Malik helping Shaw add 37 for the eighth wicket.

Shaw’s departure was followed by Craig Williams – trapped lbw by Uttley (3-47) – to make it 174-9, but the hosts still would not give up.

A last-wicket stand of 39 took them to 213 with Malik 38 not out, but Ali (2-34) had Kologula caught behind by Kang to leave Falkland all out for 213.

However, it was not enough for Reading, who drop into Division Two having been relegated from the Home Counties Premier League at the end of 2017.

Phil Brennan made a brilliant 91 to help Reading 2nds thrash Bagshot 2nds by 140 runs in Division 4a.

His knock helped the seventh-placed side total 248-9 in their 45 overs, and with Dani Katuri (4-28) and Shiva Aruna (3-28) both among the wickets, Bagshot were skittled for 108.

Reading 3rds finished the season eighth in Division 6b after they were well beaten by eight wickets at home to runners-up Binfield 2nds.

Nathan Warick’s 5-23 helped restrict the hosts to 181-9, and Will Sennett (66no) and Steve Jeffrey (62) then guided Binfield home in 30.5 overs.

In Division 9a, Gaajuran Ganagabalan’s 57 helped Reading 4ths post 163, but champions Wokingham 5ths (166-3) reached their target with more than 10 overs to spare.