RELEGATION-THREATENED Bracknell slumped to a nine-wicket defeat at home to Theale & Tilehurst in Division 4a, writes Richard Ashton.

Only Sanjeewa Darshana (42) got going for the hosts as they were shot out for 135, Brian Cooper claiming 4-5 and Rob Dimmack 3-14.

T&T then made easy work of the chase, Mo Jamil striking an unbeaten 88 to guide his side to 139-1 in just 20.3 overs.

Bracknell will hope to bounce back at home to Reading 2nds on Saturday.

Jack Ford struck a sensational ton to keep Eversley in the race for promotion from Division 2a after they beat Amersham 2nds by six wickets.

Tom Magowan took 3-83 as the Boars restricted their opponents to 244-7, and Ford (123no) was then aided by the explosive Byron Hickman (55no from 33 balls) in steering Eversley to 245-4 in 36 overs.

Second-placed Eversley host basement side Kidmore End this coming Saturday.

Hurst dropped to third in Division 2b after having the worst of their draw with fellow high-flyers Beaconsfield.

Chris McCarthy (3-86) and skipper Lewis Smith (3-80) did the bulk of the damage as Hurst kept the hosts to 246-6, but none of the visitors' batsmen really got going as they were forced to hang on at 163-9.

Hurst are at home to Thatcham Town this Saturday.

Rock bottom Royal Ascot (39) suffered a day to forget as they were thumped by nine wickets at home to new leaders Henley 2nds (45-1).

Royal Ascot visit Reading on Saturday.

Parth Patel (8-105) took career-best figures for Finchampstead 2nds (170), but they went down by 91 runs to Aldershot (261-9).

In Division 3a, Finchampstead 3rds (192) fell to a 26-run reverse at home to Farnham Royal (218-8).

Paddy Fall top scored for Finches with 43.

Division 5b leaders Eversley 2nds had the worst of the draw in their top-of-the-table clash with Binfield 2nds.

Matt Humphrey blasted a superb 147 and skipper Paul Edgington added 55 as the visitors were bowled out for 305, Jack Surrall the pick of the Boars' attack with 3-50.

Ben Martin (85) played a key knock in the chase, but with Lewis Hall (4-42) and Joe Sculley (3-39) bowling well, Eversley were forced to cling on for the draw at 248-9.

Second-bottom Royal Ascot 2nds dominated their draw at Falkland 3rds.

Samm Daniel (57no) and Billy Baker (50) led the way as Ascot declared on 311-8 after 50 overs, but despite Mike Wyatt's 3-43, Falkland survived comfortably on 249-5.

Ian Harvey took 6-33 from 18 overs, but Hurst 2nds (128) still lost to Cove 3rds (131-6) by four wickets in Division 6b.

Jamie Brown top scored with 52, but Finchampstead 4ths (192-9) fell to a six-wicket defeat at table-topping Bradfield (197-4), Ahmed Khan hammering an unbeaten 95 from just 79 balls for the home side.

In Division 7a, third-placed Binfield 3rds (90) were walloped by 10 wickets at home to leaders Yateley (94-0).

Ian Richards (82) and Disney Abeyesekara (79) were among the runs as Royal Ascot 3rds hammered Maidenhead & Bray 3rds by 146 runs.

Ascot were bowled out for 296, but a wonderful spell from Tim Howson (5-50) saw them knock over Maids for 150 in reply.

A breath-taking assault from Matt Martin fired Eversley 3rds to a comprehensive eight-wicket triumph at home to Finchampstead 5ths in Division 8a.

Matt Rowley top scored with 72 as Finches totalled 191-8 in their 40 overs, Colin Webb the pick of the Boars' attack with 4-59.

Eversley lost an early wicket, but that just set the stage for Martin (119no from 67 balls) to blast the unbeaten leaders to 194-2 in 27.4 overs.

Bracknell 2nds (204-8) lost to Thatcham Town 3rds (230-8) by 26 runs.

Afzal Siddiqui (4-14) and Naeem Mohammed (4-18) both bowled superbly for Royal Ascot 4ths (100), but they lost a low-scoring thriller by 13 runs at Theale & Tilehurst 3rds (113).

Andrew Thornton snared 4-10 as Eversley 4ths (102-5) beat Maidenhead & Bray 4ths (101) by five wickets in Division 9a.