Bears eye swift return
EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD are closing in on an immediate return to the Premier Division.
It has been a mixed campaign for the Bears, who started strongly after dropping down to Division 1, but suffered a string of defeats which coincided with captain Phil West departing to rejoin Finchampstead.
However, victories in each of their last two has lifted Emmbrook up to second in the table with two games to play.
Their latest success came against struggling Peppard Stoke Row 2s after a scintillating bowling display.
Mark Cobb was the pick of the bunch, posting figures of 3-12 as Peppard were dismissed for just 68 while Asim Zaka’s 34 not out helped see the sevenwicket win over the line.
In the same league, FARLEY HILL were beaten by six wickets against Checkendon.
Unbeaten knocks from
Nick Timms (82no) and Johan Vorster (30no) saw Farley post a target of 186 to win, and Checkendon made light work of the chase.
Up in the Premier Division, WOODLEY picked up a vital win over fellow strugglers Welford Park.
Woodley still need more wins to try and clinch survival, but they got the job done at the weekend by three wickets thanks to a stand-out display from Kashif Ali, scoring 63 with the bat and 3-31 with the ball.
CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD eased to an eight-wicket win over Woodcote.
Chasing 134 for victory after fine bowling from Anthony Cluett (4-20) and Ravi Godbole (3-34), Crows clinched the win with Cluett (48) and Mike Brundish (58no) the leading scorers.
BERKSHIRE COUNTY SPORTS suffered a convincing 137-run loss against West Reading, failing to chase down 248
WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE sit top of Division 2 after a nervy two-wicket win over Warfield. It looked like it was set to be a comfortable afternoon for the promotionchasers as Chris Waghorn helped bowl out Warfield for 128.
While Waltham did get across the line, the top score was just 28 from Ravi Sainani as eight wickets fell in the reply.
Second-placed SHINFIELD threw everything at EARLEY, but could only come away with a winning draw.
Shinfield posted a daunting looking 298-5 before declaring after a wonderful knock from Muhammad Hafeez (149no) which included 12 fours and 14 sixes. Prashant Gandhi added 47.
But third-placed Earley held firm in reply, closing on 117-9, an innings epitomised by Gary Shacklady’s 31 off 91 deliveries, as Shashank Garg(3-11)l ed the stats of the 10 bowlers the hosts used to try and force victory.
Sanjeev Jain scored 42 as EMMBROOK AND BEARWOOD 2s lost by seven wickets to WOODLEY 2s, meaning they will now start preparing for life in Division 3.
Stuart Barrable (62) and Shiva Nagam (4-19) produced the best individual performances as TWYFORD AND RUSCOMBE earned a winning draw over CROWTHORNE AND CROWN. WOOD 2s.
Half centuries from Fasul Nufail (56) and Mohammad Arshad (57) saw KNOWL HILL hold onto a losing draw against Division 3 leaders West Reading 3s.
In Division 4, SHINFIELD 2s are top of the pile after thumping West Reading 4s by seven wickets.
Srinivas Vijayarao posted figures of 3-10 as Reading were bowled out for a paltry 78, a target easily chased down.
Three wickets apiece for Venkata Sashank Adapa and Dipak Upwanshi earned CROWTHORNE AND CROWN WOOD 3s a comfortable win over Mortimer West End 2s, while BINFIELD 3s were beaten by Sulhamstead and Ufton 3s despite a knock of 41 from Cameron Davies.
Ed Davies’ half century helped WALTHAM ST LAWRENCE 2s to a fourwicket win over Falkland Development.