EVERSLEY slipped nearer to the Division 2a relegation zone after suffering a five-wicket defeat at home to fellow strugglers Maidenhead & Bray, writes Richard Ashton.

James Magowan (70) led the way for the hosts, but Maids’ skipper Louis Blackwell (6-49) played the key role in helping dismiss the Boars for 178.

That total never looked like being enough after Sachin Moudgil and Will Cunliffe (75no) put on 71 for the first wicket, and Maidenhead & Bray eventually reached their target in 36 overs.

Captain Chris Last was the pick of the Eversley attack (2-36).

Eversley visit Kidmore End this coming Saturday (1pm).

An emphatic eight-wicket win at Marlow pushed Wokingham 31 points clear at the top of the Division One table.

Paul McCraw (5-35) was aided by Jacob Clark (2-26) and Paul Dewick (2-29) in dismissing the hosts for 138, and Dan Housego (57no) and Stuart Hayter (55) made light work of the run chase.

Wokingham visit third-placed Boyne Hill on Saturday (2pm).

Alex Kayser top scored with 61, but Hurst dropped to fifth in the Division 2b table following a six-wicket loss at Slough 2nds.

The visitors were knocked over for 162, and despite Phil Higgs taking 4-66, Slough reached their target in 38.1 overs – Ali Ahmed (57) and Danyal Akhtar the principle run-getters.

Hurst visit Burnham 2nds on Saturday (1pm).

Kevin May (6-39) and Andy Murray (3-41) did the damage for Royal Ascot as they thrashed basement boys Sonning by 10 wickets.

The hosts were bundled out for 140, and Murray (86no) and James Gamble (48no) knocked the runs off in 28.5 overs. Royal Ascot host Yateley this Saturday.

In Division 3a, David Healey (3-28) and Martin Wilson (3-44) were in fine form for second-placed Wokingham 2nds (161-3) as they beat Chiswick & Whitton by seven wickets.

Simon Carter (75) and Craig Beales (51no) made sure the run chase was routine.

Division 4a basement dwellers Eversley 2nds (204) hammered Royal Ascot 2nds (79) by 125 runs as youngster Ru Whelan took remarkable figures of 5-5.

Bracknell (133) remain in the Division 5b relegation zone after losing by seven wickets to Boyne Hill 2nds (136-3).

Bracknell host Maidenhead & Bray 2nds on Saturday (1pm).

Wokingham 3rds produced a fine run chase to beat Aldershot 2nds by eight wickets.

David Bishop (3-60) and Cameron Gillespie (3-61) helped bowl out the visitors for 201, and Harry Staples (100no) and James Stevens (56no) batted will to secure the victory.

Tom Hibbs (65) and Kelvin Baillie (56) led the way for Hurst 2nds (264-9 declared in 51 overs) as they thumped Royal Ascot 3rds (159) by 105 runs in Division 6b.

Jake White (6-32) and Ian Harvey (4-23) were superb with the ball for Hurst.

In Division 7a, Simon Naete’s unbeaten 73 guided Wokingham 4ths (162-6) to a four-wicket success at Eversely 3rds (161). Alex Crowder-Johnson made 84 for the Boars. Bracknell 2nds (106) lost to Fleet 2nds (108-3) by seven wickets.

In Division 8a, a superb spell by Tony Critchley (5-24) inspired Eversley 4ths (150-7 declared off 43 overs) to a 36-run win against Cove 5ths (114), while Royal Ascot 4ths (185-8) lost to Bagshot 3rds (186-4) by six wickets.

Toqir Khalid top scored with 54 as Wokingham 5ths (216-8 declared off 43 overs) drew with Cookham Dean 4ths (159-4) in Division 9a.