WOKINGHAM were left kicking themselves for failing to inflict table-topping Oxford's first Home Counties Premier League Division Two defeat of the season.

They bowled magnificently to dismiss their unbeaten hosts for just 129, only to be shot out themselves for 125.

The Oaks' new off-spinner Max Uttley made an immediate impact, taking 5-27 from 8.5 overs.

The former Finchampstead player, who spent last season at Reading, was also responsible for running out opener Harvey Eltham for five, the first wicket falling at nine.

Owyn Tong-Jones (12) and Jamie Perkin (35) lifted the total to 53 before the former fell to a catch by Simon Myles off the bowling of Lewis Sharp for 12, and Oxford moved on to 73 before Uttley had Perkin caught by Paul Dewick.

Uttley and fellow spinner Dewick (3-24) ripped through the rest of the order, although they were briefly held at bay by Shamilal Mendis (20) and Freddie Simon (15), the pair adding 31 for the sixth wicket, which went down at 110.

The last five wickets fell in the space of 19 runs and Wokingham must have gone into tea confident of winning. However, their batting performance proved a disaster.

Of the top six, only Stuart Parsons (11) and Myles (12) made it to double figures and the Oaks were in big trouble at 56-6.

James Bird (20) and Stuart Hayter (13) raised the total to 89, and 100 came up in the 45th over when Sharp was run out by Eltham for six.

The last pair, however, edged their side closer to the target, with Uttley moving on to 11 and Dewick to 15.

Five runs were still required going into the final over of this nail-biting affair, but the third ball saw Dewick loft the ball into the hands of Simon at deep mid-wicket, leaving Wokingham with a four-run defeat.

The Sadlers End men finish their opening five 50-50 fixtures with just two wins, but will be hoping for an improvement when the timed-games begin this coming Saturday. They will be home to a Dinton side who have lost all five matches so far.