ROCK bottom Bracknell crashed to a 220-run defeat as Division 4a leaders Sonning continued their charge towards the title, writes Richard Ashton.

Australian Aaron Crofts led the charge for the hosts with a stunning 182 from 130 deliveries, and with skipper Andrew Niblett adding 64 from 63, the hosts were able to declare on 318-5 from 44 overs.

None of the Bracknell batsmen got going in reply, with Oliver Rowe (5-24) and Gus Cloete (3-10) helping roll the visitors out for just 98.

Bracknell host Wargrave 2nds this coming Saturday.

Second-placed Wokingham 3rds eased to a 108-run victory at Reading 2nds.

Rahul Patel struck an unbeaten 109 as the Oaks declared on 245-5 after 50 overs, and they then knocked over Reading for 137.

Eversley slipped to second in the Division 2a table despite dominating their draw at home to Tring Park 2nds.

Alex Davidson (56) and Alex Sykes (49) were both in form with the bat as the Boars amassed 184-7, and with Nick McGuane (3-34), Chris Last (2-7) and Stuart Lipo (2-16) all bowling well, they were able to restrict their opponents to 129-8 in reply.

Eversley travel to Chesham 2nds on Saturday.

Hurst’s (79) Division 2b title aspirations suffered a big blow as they lost by two wickets to Bagshot (83-8), the visitors falling to defeat despite the best efforts of Phil Higgs (3-34) and Andrew Ruddock (3-26).

Hurst face a key clash at home to table-topping Henley 2nds this coming Saturday.

Royal Ascot picked up their first win of the season in emphatic style as they crushed second-bottom Aldershot by 10 wickets.

Mike Brown (4-21), Andy Murray (2-3) and Charlie Dunnett (2-10) were all in top form as Aldershot were skittled for just 66, and the hosts raced to 68-0 in just 15.4 overs.

Royal Ascot travel to Finchampstead 2nds on Saturday.

Matt Eldridge (54) and Tommie Pregden (42) batted well as Finchampstead 2nds (179) just had the better of their draw against Thatcham Town (174-8), Andy Lazenbury taking 4-49 for Finches.

Division 3a leaders Binfield cruised to an eight-wicket success at home to Slough 3rds.

Tom Nower (3-29), Matt Hayman (2-25), Jack Collett (2-39) and Duncan Wessels (2-39) all impressed with the ball as Binfield dismissed their opponents for 157, and Muhammed Furqan (70no) and Wynand Lamprecht (61) then put on 86 for the opening wicket as the home side cruised to 161-2 in 23.1 overs.

Binfield visit Boyne Hill 2nd son Saturday.

Second-placed Wokingham 2nds lost ground on the leaders after their game at Falkland 2nds was abandoned due to rain.

Matt Harper bagged 4-41 before Ed Oliver (64no) and Richard Reed (51no) took the batting honours as Finchampstead 3rds (138-1) crushed Cove 2nds (136) by nine wickets.

In Division 5b, leaders Eversley 2nds (140) lost their clash with second-placed Henley 3rds (225) by 85 runs, despite Roni Rezaul (6-62) producing a fine spell with the ball.

Aarav Radhakrishnan (5-14) and Myles Trainor (4-6) were in stunning form as Royal Ascot 2nds (33-0) emulated their first team’s efforts by smashing Aldershot 2nds (31) by 10 wickets.

Binfield 2nds’ game at Slough 4ths was abandoned without a ball being bowled.

Hurst 2nds (187) lost to Sonning 2nds (189-3) by seven wickets in Division 6b, while Finchampstead 4ths’ game with Cove 3rds was called off before any play took place.

Tom Dummigan took 4-41 for Royal Ascot 3rds (147), but they went down by 107 runs to Division 7a high-flyers Yateley (254-7 declared after 48.1 overs).

Wokingham 4ths (86) crashed to a seven-wicket defeat to Wargrave 3rds (89-3), Alex Hands taking 5-19 for the visitors.

Kamal Gupta’s 55 was not enough to stop Binfield 3rds (160) losing to Maidenhead & Bray 3rds (243-6) by 83 runs.

In Division 8a, table-topping Eversley 3rds maintained their 100 per cent record with a 206-run destruction of Royal Ascot 4ths.

Bill Burnett (100) and Jim Heywood (63) powered the Boars to an imposing 272-4 in their 40 overs, and Stuart Tidbury then grabbed 4-5 as Ascot were skittled for a mere 66.

Wokingham 5ths (182-4) beat Boyne Hill 4ths (178-8), but Finchampstead 5ths were forced to concede their game with Theale & Tilehurst 3rds.

Bracknell 2nds (154) tied their game with Bagshot 3rds (154-8).

Eversley 4ths (165-4) went down to a six-wicket defeat to Division 9a leaders Datchet 4ths (169-4), while Wokingham Oaks & Acorns (108-5) lost by 104 runs to Yateley 2nds (212-8).