Emmbrook go for the top
EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD took a huge step towards clinching the Division 1 title with a thumping 143run win over Goring on Thames.
The Bears are top of a tight table with one week to go and they set themselves up for the win, posting a total of 202-9 with Richard Cole (41no) top scoring.
Cole took his good form to the second innings with bowling figures of 4-20 while Mark Cobb topped that with 5-21 to bowl Goring out for just 59.
Emmbrook travel to face secondplaced Bradfield on Saturday.
FARLEY HILL picked up a vital win, seeing off West Reading 2s by two wickets. Nick Timms was the star of the show, posting figures of 5-30 to help dismiss Reading for 165.
And he produced with the bat, scoring 45 which was only topped by Michael Sheridan’s unbeaten 55, which clinched the win.
Up in the Premier Division, WOODLEY’S woes continue with a massive 240-run loss to champions Sulhamstead and Ufton.
Woodley, who have won just three times all season, could not find a way through against Sulhamstead, who reached a daunting 337-2 off their 45 overs.
Unsurprisingly, the league’s bottom side could get nowhere near the target, bowled out for 97 with Upendra Deshpande (22) top scoring.
Jeff Cluett’s five-wicket haul came in vain as CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD struggled with the bat in defeat to Peppard Stoke Row.
Cluett’s 5-33 helped bowl out Peppard for 196, but the Crows could only muster 78 before their innings was brought to an end.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY SPORTS lost by one-wicket to Ruislip Victoria.
Berks batted first with Babar Butt (48) the leading scorer in an innings which ended 153 all out.
Mohammad Farooq (4-41) did his best with the ball, but Ruislip crept across the winning line with just one wicket in hand.
WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE sit top of Division 2 despite being held to a draw by Hawley.
Ankush Gandhi was the leading light with a superb double century 209, while Chris Sharpe’s unbeaten 68 helped Waltham along to 316-2 before their declared.
And they took the majority of the points from the contest, after Hawley closed on 131-7.
EARLEY clinched a narrow ninerun win over Warfield.
Batting first, Earley struggled and were bowled out for just 116. But top bowling from Charlie Johnson (3-18) and Gary Shacklady (2-18) ensured it would be just about enough.
SHINFIELD are still well-placed for promotion after cruising past WOODLEY 2s by six wickets.
In a low-scoring affair, Shinfield bowled out Woodley for a paltry 49, with Anuraag Shukla (4-19) the pick of the bowlers, before chasing down the target.
TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE inflicted further misery on rock-bottom EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD 2s with a five-wicket win.
Emmbrook reached 152 before being bowled out with Steve Bendall’s 88 leading the way but Chandra Cherukuri (4-52) and Kiran Musudi (3-30) had a good day with the ball.
Adam Henley’s unbeaten 86 helped Twyford across the line to win in the 41st over.
CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD 2s saw off Stratfield Turgis/ Hartley Wespall by eight wickets with stand-out displays from Julian O’Loughlin (64) and Nirav Upadhyay (5-19).
In Division 3, KNOWL HILL are third after a 60-run success over Welford Park. Knowl batted first, closing on 194-6 with Julian Fernando (42) the top scorer, before bowling out Welford for 134.
Down in Division 4, SHINFIELD 2s beat Mortimer West End 2s by 72 runs with Hassan Safdar scoring a half century, while WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE 2s were beaten by Sulhamstead and Ufton 3s.