WOKINGHAM kept up their bid for promotion from Division Two of the Home Counties Premier League after easing to a seven-wicket home win against Harefield, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors chose to bat after winning the toss, but they made a bad start as Ian Muirden had Dhavalkumar Norotam caught behind by Michael Bates to leave Harefield 8-1.

Lewis Sharp bowled Michael Barry with the total on 23, but Tom McLeod and Dan Ogden rebuilt with a 45-run stand which was ended when the former fell to Simon Myles.

Two quick wickets from Paul Dewick (2-32 from 10 overs) reduced Harefield to 115-5, and Ogden's (49) brave resistance was ended by Muirden with the score on 154.

Stephen Croft hit a rapid 45 from only 36 balls, but with Sharp (3-43 from 12 overs) and Muirden (3-74 from 23) bowling well late on, Harefield could only reach 188-9 in 58 overs.

Wokingham made a disastrous start as openers Stuart Parsons and James Bird were dismissed by Tom Crick to leave the Oaks 14-2.

That was as good as it got for the visitors, though, as Dan Housego (79no), Simon Myles (56) and Bates (45no) knocked off the runs calmly to keep their side in third.

Wokingham visit leaders Buckingham Town on Saturday.

In Division 5b of the Thames Valley League, Wokingham 3rds moved up to second in the table with a straight-forward six-wicket success at Wargrave 2nds.

John McDonald (4-22) and Vikesh Patel (4-38) were the destroyers-in-chief as Wargrave were bundled out for just 98, opening batsman Charlie Moss (36) scoring more than a third of their runs.

The run chase was never really in doubt, with captain Gary Fleming unbeaten on 26 as Wokingham reached their target in 18.1 overs.

Wokingham 4ths had the better of their draw at home to White Waltham 2nds in Division 7a.

The Oaks were in trouble early on as they collapsed to 35-4 after losing the toss, but an excellent unbeaten 55 fron No. 8 Toby Barker helped the hosts to 176-9.

Waltham struggled to keep up with the rate in the run chase, but despite Hugh Doyle's 3-29, the visitors survived on 132-6.

In Division 9a, Thatcham Town 4ths conceded their game with Wokingham 5ths.