BRACKNELL secured a second Division 5b win of the season as they walloped Purley on Thames 2nds by 152 runs, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors endured a dreadful start as they collapsed to 23-3, but a fine fourth-wicket stand of 79 between Majid Sharif and Junaid Ashiq (32) took the score to 112 until the latter was caught by Jack Purser off the bowling of Michael Coggs.

Sharif continued on his merry way and was joined by captain Taz Shah, the pair putting on 114.

Sharif’s brilliant innings was ended when he was bowled by Purser for 130, but Shah carried on to finish a superb knock of his own unbeaten on 90, Bracknell totalling 306-6 in their 45 overs.

Mohammad Shabbir bowled Pete Rackley for a duck before Purley battled on to 43 when Ashiq had Chris Rackley caught behind by Hussain.

He grabbed a second wicket when castling Sachin Deshmane to make it 81-3, and Chris Priestley became Ashiq’s (3-31) third victim shortly after.

There was little resistance from the middle and lower order bar Tom Purser’s 36, and Sharif (3-7) and Peter Henly (2-61) worked their way through the line-up to leave the Potters 154 all out.

Bracknell host Thatcham Town 2nds this coming Saturday.

In Division 2b, a sub-par batting performance resulted in Hurst being thrashed by 102 runs at home to Thatcham Town.

Jack Young made 55 for Thatcham after they were asked to bat, but useful spells from Aryan Joshi (3-38), Usman Ijaz (2-27) and Nick Reynolds (2-38) seemed to have Hurst in a good position as they restricted their opponents to 194-9 in 50 overs.

The hosts made an appalling start as Ryan Gilmour reduced them to 2-3 with three wickets in the space of four balls.

Kelvin Baillie and Sam Hawkes took the score to 33 before they were both dismissed, Baillie ending the innings as top scorer with 17.

Tom Hibbs was next to go to leave Hurst 43-6, and they were eventually shot out for just 92 with Gilmour finishing with 5-23.

Hurst travel to Wokingham 2nds this Saturday.

Royal Ascot did not have a game on Saturday due to Yateley’s departure from the division, with a trip to Wargrave awaiting this coming Saturday.

Binfield suffered a first defeat of the Division 4a season as Royal Ascot 2nds edged to a two-wicket victory.

The hosts had a terrible start as Wynand Lamprecht was given out caught behind second ball, but skipper Mike Staves and the in-form Chris Morgan took the score past 50.

Staves fell for 20 with the score on 51, and with Morgan (30), Eddlie Lee (50) and Alex Jackson (29) chipping in throughout the order, they were able to post 197-9 in the 45 overs.

Andy Murray (3-44) and Elliot Coggins (3-38) were the pick of the attack.

Jack Kendall whacked 52 from 49 balls as Ascot raced to 60 before James Gamble was bowled by Duncan Wessels, and that prompted a shocking collapse which saw the visitors crash to 93-7 as Matt Hayman grabbed 4-23.

However, Murray (59no from 62 balls) and captain Jason Carr (31no from 35) put on an unbroken 49 for the ninth wicket to see their side home with four balls to spare.

Binfield travel to Reading 2nds this Saturday.

Hurst 2nds stayed top of the Division 6b table with a 97-run victory at Aldershot 3rds.

Skipper Ollie Lovegrove (111) made his second century of the season – to go with two other 50s in five innings – to help Hurst post an imposing 279-4, James Smith adding 66 and Tim Everitt 43.

Aldershot were never really in the hunt in reply, eventually bowled out for 182 as Smith completed a good day with figures of 4-23.

Binfield 2nds were edged out by 23 runs at Taplow 2nds.

Rupert Warren (5-45) and Scott Butler (3-37) bowled well as Binfield managed to knock over their opponents for 198, albeit Taplow had been 89-6 at one stage.

Will Sennett top scored with 40 in the Binfield run chase, but they could never find the match-winning partnership they needed and eventually closed on 175-8.

In Division 7a, openers Dan Corsini (46) and Jeremy Wing (45) put on a stand of 114 to set the platform for a 37-run win for Royal Ascot 3rds at home to Kidmore End 2nds.

The home side reached 239-7 in their 45 overs before bowling out the visitors for 202, Duncan Grant top scoring with 73.

Naeem Mohammed took 3-49 for Royal Ascot 4ths (114), but they were beaten by 68 runs at Wargrave 3rds (182-9) in Division 8a.

Bracknell 2nds (150) lost by two wickets at home to Bagshot 3rds (154-8).