HURST’S bid to seal back-to-back Division 2b victories was halted by the weather as they drew at home to Slough 2nds, writes Richard Ashton.

The home side made a poor start as Lewis Smith and newly-signed Rukshan Soza both fell to make it 22-2, but Usman Ijaz and captain Ollie Lovegrove (31) steadied the ship until the latter was dismissed by Naveed Akhtar.

Hurst’s middle order failed to fire and they were in deep trouble at 96-6, but Ijaz (79no) and Kyle Bradley took them to 147-6 before the game was abandoned after 42 overs.

Hurst travel to Royal Ascot this coming Saturday (1pm).

A superb team bowling performance ensured Royal Ascot picked up a 15-run victory at Chiswick & Whitton to move top of the early-season table.

Nick Kempton top scored with 45 and Andy English chipped in with 35 as Ascot were dismissed for 166, with Ravi Bhatia claiming 7-81.

However, that proved enough for the visitors, with Will Ellison (3-46), Kevin May (3-48), Mike Brown (2-23) and Andy Murray (2-23) all among the wickets in a fine win.

In Division One, Wokingham maintained their 100% record with a 20-run Duckworth/Lewis victory at Kew.

Stuart Parsons (74) and Michael Bates (76) led the way for the Oaks, while Jack Fisher contributed 41 in their toal of 238-9 off 50 overs.

Following a rain delay, Kew were set a revised target of 207 in 29 overs, but three early wickets from Cameron Spence (3-38) left them reeling on 33-3.

Michael Outar (47) and Lewis Abbott (60) rebuilt the innings, but Fisher (3-22) showed his all-round skills to help restrict the home side to 186-8.

Wokingham visit Chesham this Saturday (1pm), with both sides currently boasting a perfect record.

Wokingham 2nds eased to an emphatic eight-wicket victory at home to North Maidenhead 2nds in Division 4b.

Muhammed Usman (4-39), David Healey (2-26) and Jacob Clark (2-39) did the damage as the Oaks were restricted to 153-8 in 44 overs, and Matthew Loxton’s sensational unbeaten 110 from just 89 balls hustled Wokingham to an easy victory.

Saeed Ahmed (7-66) was the match-winner for Royal Ascot 2nds as they edged to a one-wicket success at home to Bracknell.

Jatinder Kumar (64) was the only visiting batsman to really get going, with Bracknell bowled out for 146.

However, Tyron Winter (5-44) and Mohammed Shabir (2-32) gave the visitors hope, only for Royal Ascot wicket-keeper Tony King to rescue his side with an excellent 54 before the final pair of Myles Trainor and Ahmed finished the job.

Bracknell host Sonning 2nds on Saturday.

In Division 6b, Royal Ascot 3rds thumped Hurst 2nds by 109 runs.

Gary Clarke (65) and Jon Prowse (53) steered the home side to a competitive 180-4, before Rob Major (4-5) and Mike Wyatt (4-21) dismantled the Hurst batting line-up as they were shot out for just 71.

Cameron Gillespie starred with bat and ball as Wokingham 3rds annihilated Boyne Hill 3rds by nine wickets.

The club captain took 3-20 as Boyne Hill were routed for just 55, and then scored 32 to secure a trouble-free victory.

Raj Achaya took 3-27 for Wokingham 4ths, but their Division 8a game at Newbury 2nds was abandoned with the hosts on 115-5 after 35.3 overs.

Royal Ascot 4ths’ fixture at Sonning 3rds suffered the same fate, the home side 145-5 after 31 overs when the rain arrived.

Wokingham 5ths were in trouble on 86-9 when their Division 9a game against Wargrave 3rds was called off.