BERKSHIRE, Mid Bucks & Chilterns League Championship champions elect Harpsden were held to a draw at Braywood, but their 28-0point haul still took them a step closer to title glory, writes Richard Ashton.

Having been asked to bat, Harpsden started well with prolific Australian Blake Hogan-Keogh (46) and Adam Birkett (82) sharing a useful opening stand.

Shahbaz Khan (4-32) brought the hosts back into the contest, however, with Harpsden restricted to 233-9 in their 46 overs.

The Braywood reply never really got going despite Prijith Vijayan top scoring with 45, and they eventually closed on 178-7, Abdul Khaliq the pick of the bowlers with 3-38.

Second-placed Holmer Green survived a thriller to beat West Reading by one wicket in a low-scoring encounter.

Kashif Iqbal (5-26) and Rommel Foster (3-30) were in top form with the ball as Green knocked over Wests for just 104, but Hafeez Ul-Wahab (6-35) could have turned the game on its head were it not for Iqbal (45) completing a man-of-the-match display which ended with his side reaching 105-9.

Third-placed Checkendon held on for a draw at home to neighbours Peppard Stoke Row.

Having won the toss, PSR openers Mark Price (99) and Peter Lamsdale (112) put the Checkendon attack to the sword with a stand of 203, and despite Jim Warren (5-52) bowling well, the away side were able to amass an imposing 293-7.

Checkendon slipped to 42-3 at the hands of spin triumvirate Dion Sampson (2-45), Connor Lamsdale (2-48) and Dan Hayden (2-29), but with Amol Tyagi (60) counter-attacking efficiently, some stoic lower-order resistance ended with Checks finishing on 207-8.

Lewis Thompson struck a remarkable 18 maximums and helped himself to the highest individual score in BMBCL history as Ley Hill thumped basement side Penn & Tylers Green by 189 runs.

Thompson smashed 182 not out, and aided by captain Craig Peterson's 73, Ley Hill were able to declare on a huge 314-3 after just 36 overs.

Penn never looked like getting anywhere near that target, and with Thompson (4-12) and Graham Comper (3-28) excelling with the ball, they were dismissed for 125.

Nick Adams took 5-26 and Andy Thompson made 61 as Ballinger Waggoners (149-5) won their relegation battle at Ruislip Victoria (148) by five wickets.