A SHOCKING batting collapse cost Royal Ascot dearly as they were routed by seven wickets at home to Hurst in Division 2b, writes Richard Ashton.

After an opening stand of 24, the home side lost 10 wickets for just 38 runs as they were shot out for 62, Andrew Ruddock the chief beneficiary with 3-24.

Hurst themselves slipped to 15-3, but an unbroken stand of 50 between James Watt (27no) and Connor White (24no) ensured they sealed a comfortable victory.

Royal Ascot travel to Wokingham 2nds this Saturday, while Hurst are at home to Finchampstead 2nds.

Fine knocks from Tommie Pregden (76no) and Mac Keast (79no) inspired Finchampstead 2nds to an easy eight-wicket victory at home to Aldershot.

Asim Hussain (5-42) and Sam Taylor (3-73) were both among the wickets as Aldershot were knocked over for 213, and Russell Lane made 42 before Pregden and Keast finished the job.

Wokingham 2nds were forced to hang on for a draw at Thatcham Town.

A brilliant spell by Anthony Clapham (6-57 from 16 overs) seemed to have bowled the Oaks into a good position as they kept the hosts to 239-9.

However, with the exception of Manpreet Singh (41), Wokingham’s batting line-up failed to fire and they ground their way to 145-7.

South African Andrew Niblett starred for Eversley as they returned to winning ways in Division 2a with a 65-run triumph at OMT.

Niblett top scored with 77 as the Boars posted 259-4 in their 52 overs, and skipper Chris Last then took 5-50 to bowl the home team out for 194.

Eversley host Chesham 2nds on Saturday.

In Division 3a, Finchampstead 3rds beat Harefield 2nds by three wickets.

Parth Patel took 4-75 in his 20 overs as Finch restricted the visitors to 217-8, and Sam Jenkins (83) and Kwame Appiah (42) then led from the front to help their side chase the target down with 14 balls to spare.

Chetan Bhanot took 5-46 to help Boyne Hill 2nds (118-3) ease past Royal Ascot 2nds (117) by seven wickets in Division 4a, Don Pike then scoring 53 not out in the run chase.

James Berger-North (73) and Mike Judd (41) were among the runs for Eversley 2nds (223-9 declared after 50 overs) as they beat Purley on Thames 2nds (158) by 65 runs, Roni Rezaul (3-19) and Joe Howorth (3-24) doing the damage with the ball.

Callum Creighton’s 5-48 helped Wokingham 3rds to a six-wicket success at home to Bracknell in Division 5b.

Junaid Khan (74) was the chief run-scorer for the visitors in their total of 205, but useful knocks from Ed Fox-Smith (53no), David Bishop (51) and Rakesh Patel (44) guided the Oaks home.

Bracknell host Falkland 3rds on Saturday.

In Division 6b, Ian Harvey took 4-31 as Hurst 2nds (174-7) beat Reading 3rds (170) by three wickets.

Matt Salter (48) top scored for Eversley 3rds (241-9), but they lost by three wickets to White Waltham 2nds (244-7) in Division 7a.

Rob Saunders bagged 3-51 for the Boars.

Ralph Weeks (62) and skipper Marc Ames (50) were among the runs as Royal Ascot 3rds (198) beat Wokingham 4ths (133) by 65 runs.

Arvind Bhat (6-53) and Hasanain Ghafoor (53) enjoyed the best games for the Oaks, while Mike Wyatt’s 4-43 proved key in helping Ascot to victory.

Captain Chris White hit a sparkling 131, but it was not enough for Division 8a side Bracknell 2nds as they lost by six wickets at home to Hayes 3rds.

Karthik Ramanujam also added 78 as the hosts looked to be in a strong position at 266-8 in their 40 overs.

But their opponents managed to knock the runs off with 18 balls to spare.

Royal Ascot 4ths collected 20 points after Sonning 3rds conceded their game, while Yateley 3rds also forfeited their game against Finchampstead 5ths in Division 9a.

A brilliant unbeaten 104 from Vijay Nawale – which included seven maximums – helped promotion-chasing Eversley 4ths down Maidenhead & Bray 4ths by 65 runs.

Siva Ampalam also added 90 and Richard Ford 46 as the Boars racked up an impressive 303-4 in their 40 overs.

Alex Dobbin (3-41) then did the job with the ball as Maids could only reach 238-9 in reply.

Prasad Kulkarni (64no) and Carl Rushworth (56) led the way for Wokingham 5ths as they beat Kidmore End 3rds by 48 runs.

The hosts totalled 239-5 before keeping their opponents to 191-4 in reply.