CHAMPIONS-ELECT Harpsden failed to secure the Berkshire, Mid Bucks and Chilterns League Championship Division after suffering a shock 27-run defeat to relegation-threatened Ruislip Victoria.

Skipper Puneet Kapoor made 57 for the Victorians, but at the halfway stage they looked under the cosh as Abdul Khaliq (3-32), Will Neale (2-28), Stef Franklin (2-33) and Tom Hancock (2-37) all bowled well to dismiss the hosts for 145.

Debutant wicketkeeper Harry Hawkins also put in a tidy shift for Harpsden, ending with five catches and a stumping.

Prolific Australian opener Blake Hogan-Keogh (43) was again in good touch as he and Adam Birkett shared a stand of 59, but from there the wheels fell off for the visitors and they ended up crashing to 118 all out, Shair Khan (5-29), Zafran Akhtar (3-18) and Ilija Krunic (2-42) doing the bulk of the damage for Ruislip.

Checkendon climbed to second following a dramatic three-run triumph at West Reading.

Manpreet Singh (68) and Matthew Heslop (46no) were the main run-scorers for Checks as they amassed 206-9, Zain Ahmed (3-59) and Hafeez Ul-Wahab (2-37) bowling well for Wests.

Amol Tyagi (5-34) blitzed the hosts' top order aside from skipper Adam Davidson (101no), but he received little support other than from Atiq Javed (42) as West Reading were bowled out for 203, Vikas Chib helping himself to 2-43.

Holmer Green's poor run continued as they went down by 52 runs at Braywood.

James Salter (2-17) and Jake Gumb (2-41) helped restrict the hosts to 201-8 from their 45 overs, Shahbaz Khan the stand-out batsman with 71.

In reply, the combination of Faisal Malik (5-41), Prijith Vijayan (3-18) and Attiq Uddin (2-39) proved too much for Holmer Green, who were bowled out for 149.

Peppard Stoke Row gave their survival hopes a massive boost with a tense three-wicket success at Ley Hill.

Chris Humphreys took 4-36 and Dion Sampson 2-71 as the hosts were kept to 226-7, Max Lee top scoring with an unbeaten 74 and Craig Ottaway smashing 30 from the final over.

Andy Watts (47) and Peter Lamsdale (42 from 31 balls) put on 82 for the opening wicket, only for a mini-collapse to leave PSR 127-5.

However, Rich Ashton (40) and Humphreys (38no) put their side back on course, and they eventually got over the line with eight balls to spare.

Henry Sussum (2-26), Jack Thompson (2-47) and Ottaway (2-68) all grabbed a brace of wickets.

Ballinger Waggoners grabbed a six-wicket victory in their relegation scrap at home to Penn & Tylers Green.

Raunak Biswas (50) and Chris Mason (49) gave Penn a solid start, but Ian Maciver's 3-46 ensured they could only reach 170-6.

Biswas (3-36) completed a fine all-round display, but Will Smith's 63 provided enough impetus for Ballinger to reach 172-4 with more than four overs to spare.