SULHAMSTEAD boosted their Division 3a survival hopes with a 37-run victory at Finchampstead 3rds, writes Richard Ashton.

Marc Thompson (62), Jamie Seward (55) and Al MacEwan (41) were all among the runs as Sully posted 198-7, Liam Bulteel the pick of the Finch attack with 4-46.

Scott Osler (44) and Tom Wroot (40) led the hosts’ reply, but Craig Palmer (3-21) and Thompson (3-22) proved too good with the ball as Finchampstead were bowled out for 161.

Sulhamstead travel to second-placed Wokingham 2nds on Saturday.

Second-bottom Purley on Thames (119) remain deep in relegation trouble after an eight-wicket thrashing at Cove 2nds (121-2).

Wargrave’s stunning run of form continued as they moved up to second in Division One with a five-wicket success against Cove.

Spinners Shriyar Ahmed (4-44) and Mark Firth (3-71) combined to restrict the visitors to 197-9 in their 52 overs, and with Ashera Mahavidanalage then smashing an unbeaten 88 from just 75 balls, Wargrave reached 198-5 with 19 balls to spare.

Wargrave travel to rock bottom Hayes this coming Saturday.

Kidmore End continue to pull away from the Division 2a relegation zone after having the better of their draw at Maidenhead & Bray.

Zac Leonard (70) and South African Reinhardt Swart (66) led the way for the visitors as they posted 213-8, and with Abid Ul-Wahab (3-21) and Swart (3-33) both impressing with the ball, Maids were hanging on at 164-9 in reply.

Kidmore End host table-topping Ickenham on Saturday.

In Division 2b, third-placed Reading were given a real scare by relegation-threatened Aldershot, eventually winning a low-scoring thriller by one wicket.

Liam Jones (6-30) and Bobby Malik (4-44) combined to roll Aldershot for a mere 87, but Reading then crashed to 54-8 themselves before Malik was able to get them over the line.

Reading host Finchampstead 2nds this Saturday.

Spinners Lewis Smith (5-35) and Phil Higgs (3-49) bowled fourth-placed Hurst (167-4) to a six-wicket success against Fleet, Chris McCarthy securing the victory with an unbeaten 51 from 43 balls.

Hurst are at home to Aldershot next Saturday.

Andrew Niblett (5-16) and Peter Dean (79) were again in fine form for Division 4a leaders Sonning (133-1), the visitors easing past Theale & Tilehurst (132).

Sonning host Reading 2nds this Saturday, while Theale & Tilehurst visit Wargrave 2nds.

Reading 2nds (112) slipped to a disappointing four-wicket reverse at home to White Waltham (115-6).

Wokingham 3rds dropped out of the top two after they were edged out by two wickets at Wargrave 2nds.

Matthew Taylor top scored with an unbeaten 59 as the Oaks posted 208-9, Tom Walker (5-49) and Ollie Newton (3-59) the pick of the Wargrave attack.

The hosts managed to reach their target with an over to spare, Will Allum’s 93 leading Wargrave to 209-8 despite the best efforts of Jake Turner (4-49).

Ian Harvey took 4-45 for Hurst 2nds (130), but they went down by six wickets at Division 6b leaders Bradfield (131-4).

Tim Smith (3-30) and Charlie Wheeler (3-22) were the destroyers-in-chief with the ball for the table-toppers.

Bradfield visit Reading 3rds on Saturday.

Chris Ward struck a brilliant 104 to help Finchampstead 4ths (182-9) hang on for a draw at Sonning 2nds (251-4 declared after 49 overs).

The stand-out performers for Sonning were Gerard Soames (100), Jacob Fitton (60) and Ella Phillips (4-22).

Promotion-chasing Purley on Thames 2nds (185) thumped Cove 3rds (58) by 127 runs on the back of fine displays from Anwar Subhani (72) and Raj Senniappan (70 and 5-24).

Azeem Qayyum grabbed 5-85 for relegation-threatened Reading 3rds (148), but they went down by 83 runs to Fleet 2nds (241-7 declared in 47 overs).

Shane Stuart (4-25) ran through the Theale & Tilehurst 2nds (84) batting line-up as Sulhamstead 2nds (85-4) cruised to a four-wicket success.

Skipper Chris Pigden top scored with an unbeaten 63, but Kidmore End 2nds’ (172-8) Division 7a game against Wargrave 3rds (52-1) was abandoned following a downpour. Scott Walker had earlier taken 5-41 for Wargrave.

Ian Smith struck a wonderful 121 as Eversley 3rds made it 14 wins from 14 games and sealed promotion from Division 8a after they beat Theale & Tilehurst 3rds by 99 runs.

Smith’s effort helped the Boars post 232-5 in their 40 overs, and T&T could only reach 133-8 in reply.

David Brown took 4-32 and Richard Stansfield made 50, but it was not enough for second-placed Bradfield 2nds (128) as they lost by one run to Bagshot 3rds (129).

A Jon Last 50 and a fine spell from Graeme Ellis (5-33) proved decisive as Eversley 4ths (217-7) beat Kidmore End 3rds (119) by 98 runs in Division 9a.

Venu Passikati made 50 for Wargrave 4ths (194-6), but they lost by six wickets to Yateley 2nds (196-4).

Michael Longridge grabbed 5-31 and Wazir Khan made 70, but Sonning 3rds (163) lost by 74 runs to Marlow Park (237-9), while Reading 4ths (174) went down by seven wickets to Datchet 4ths (175-3).