The top of the table clash had all the hallmarks of a high-scoring thriller, but the promise never materialised as Wokingham put in a below average batting display.

Oaks skipper Jack Turner won the toss and elected to bat, but a mix of poor shots and clever bowling saw them reduced to 54-9 after losing constant wickets.

Only late resistance from Martin Wilson and Paul Dewick (38*) pushed the total beyond 100 before Wilson lost his off-stump to leave the hosts a target of 104.

Jono Folwer took an early wicket to give the visitors hope but a steady second-wicket partnership moved the league leaders to 45-1.

Dewick (5-39) had been the main hope for Wokingham with the bat and he gave them renewed belief with the ball as he took five wickets .

Jamie Hall grabbed a further two wickets but Marlow nudged over the line to grab a vital victory and remain at the top of the table.

It was a disappointing day for Wokingham but captain Turner looked to take the positives, which included the performance of Dewick.

“It was an extremely disappointing batting performance,” he said. “But we responded with a fantastic bowling and fielding display and had we scored another 20 runs, the result could have swung our way.

“Paul Dewick was once again our star performer, this time with bat and ball and he didn’t deserve to be on the losing team.

“We must take confidence from the way we bowled and fielded and take that momentum into next week’s game.” Wokingham will aim to bounce back with a win against High Wycombe 2nds on Saturday (1.30pm).

WOKINGHAM 2nds went down by one wicket in a close encounter with Hurst at the top of Division 3a.

Wokingham elected to bat and got off to a steady start thank to contributions from Michael Cowdell (40), Rukshan Soza (22), Shashank Iyer (17) and skipper Jack Fisher (29).

But the middle order struggled and Wokingham had to settle for 163-8 from their 52 overs, with Phillip Higgs (5-69) leading the Hurst attack.

The visitors lost three early wickets at the top of their reply, but a vital stand between Mark James (45) and Oliver Lovegrove (28) put them back in contention.

Later contributions from Higgs (16), Alex Fillingham (15) and Andy Ruddock (14*) saw Hurst snatch victory on 168-9 from the penultimate ball of the match.

Wesley Budd (3-36) and Sanjay Jain (3-35) led the Wokingham attack.

WOKINGHAM 3rds claimed a winning draw at Hurst 2nds in Thames Valley Division 5a.

Wokingham elected to bat and a partnership of 40 runs between Raj Acharya and Jake Atkinson laid the foundations.

Ben Myles - son of Oaks and Berkshire legend, Simon - carried that on with a fine 35.

Hurst began to pick up key wickets leaving Wokingham floundering on 100-5 and then 130-8.

However, a crucial ninth-wicket partnership between skipper Ashley Brinsford and Alex Pearce - recently promoted from the 4ths - put Wokingham back on track.

The pair put on 85 runs with Pearce finishing 31 not out, while Brinsford was dismissed in the final over for 57 from 74 balls including seven fours and two maximums to set Hurst a target of 219 to win.

That total looked a little below par, but Wokingham struck early with the ball when left-arm spinner Duncan Atkins claimed three victims to leave the hosts wobbling on 40-3.

Hurst skipper Ian Harvey led the fight back with a knock of 48, but Sonning never looked like reaching their target in the face of tight bowling from Duncan Atkins, Pearce and the returning Tony Matthews, and their reply fizzled out on 175-5 in the 48th over.

Wokingham skipper Brinsford said: “We had 14 key players unavailable in the top three teams of the club. The boys did really well to overcome this and get the 12 points “I was really impressed with young Alex Pearce who showed the top order how to play and the return of Tony Matthews, with over 500 first-team career wickets, is a huge bonus.” The result leaves Wokingham 3rds second in the table behind leaders Stoke Green 2nds.

Wokingham host Harefield 3rds at Sadler’s End this Saturday (1pm).

WOKINGHAM 4th were indebted to teenager Dom Ashford as his unbeaten 129 ensured the Oaks grabbed a nervy one-wicket win at home league leaders Finchampstead 5ths in the Thames Valley League Division 8a.