WOKINGHAM fell to a 73-run defeat at Datchet as their hopes of securing promotion from Division Two of the Home Counties Premier League took a major hit, writes Richard Ashton.

The hosts chose to bat, but Lewis Sharp accounted for Lewis Smith with the score on 27, Paul Dewick taking the catch.

Captain Steve Naylor was bowled by Iain Muirden eight runs later, but Vishal Aeri made 35 before he was bowled by Jarrett Bobb to leave Datchet 81-3.

A 55-run stand between Joe Thomas (50) and Berkshire captain James Morris was ended when the former was caught behind by Michael Bates off the bowling of Jacob Clark, but Max Stevenson helped Morris add 51 for the sixth wicket until he too edged behind off Muirden.

Morris was bowled for 58 by Sharp to leave the hosts 219-6, and Muirden (5-54) then worked his way through the lower order as Datchet were bowled out for 244.

Wokingham’s reply began badly as skipper Stuart Hayter edged Tom Lambert behind to make it 17-1, and wicketkeeper Thomas then stumped Stuart Parsons off left-arm spinner Chris Peploe with the score on 55.

Dan Housego made 51 before he was caught by Naylor off Peploe, and when Archie Carter was bowled by Ollie Birts for 31, Wokingham were 130-4.

From that point on Berkshire’s Peploe (7-70) got to work, running through the lower order as only Bates (43no) provided any resistance, the visitors bowled out for 171.

Wokingham are seventh in the table, now 40 points behind second-placed Datchet in the race for promotion. They are also only 35 points above second-bottom Dinton, ahead of a trip to basement boys Shipton under Wychwood on Saturday.

In Division 2b of the Thames Valley League, second-bottom Wokingham 2nds slipped to a five-wicket defeat at home to Royal Ascot.

Opener Rahul Patel (79) and Joe Drabble (43) were the only two Oaks batsmen to really fire as they were bowled out for 183, Will Ellison (4-22) and Andy Murray (4-31) doing the bulk of the damage for the visitors.

Skipper Jack Kendall (42) and James Gamble put on 65 for the first wicket as Ascot set up a fine base, and despite Callum Creighton taking 3-32, Kendall remained unbeaten on 62 as the away side reached their target in 44.1 overs.

Jack Turner scored a brilliant 105 to help Wokingham 3rds (196-3) move top of Division 5b with a seven-wicket cruise at Boyne Hill 3rds (195).

In Division 7a, Wokingham 4ths (156) lost to Fleet 2nds (157-5) by five wickets, and Wokingham 5ths also lost by eight wickets to Finchampstead 5ths in Division 9a.

Toby Worthington top scored with 60 as the Oaks were bowled out for 154, Harry King taking 4-11.

And openers Simon Eldridge (58) and young Joe Sheldon (52) then set the base for a comfortable Finch victory as they reached 156-2 in 33 overs.