Sastry shines as Newbury power on

Newbury made it four wins from five and sit top of Division 5b after a comfortable win over Binfield 2nd.

Newbury won the toss and elected to bat but lost four wickets inside the first six overs, leaving them tottering on 26/4.

However, the wicket of opener Surya Sastry eluded Binfield's bowlers - he would go on to make an impressive 75.

Vice-captain Jagjit Singh joined him and made 58 in a crucial partnership of 131 as Newbury posted 208.

Jimmy Herdman took a wicket in the first over of Binfield's reply as Newbury looked to apply the pressure.

Charlie Anstey (3/38) bowled skilfully and economically to take the game away from Binfield, who limped to 156/8, 52 runs short of Newbury's total.

In Division 2b, Sulhamstead and Ufton lost a close game by one wicket to Finchampstead 2nd.

Sulhamstead were put in to bat and made hard work of things, falling to 41/5.

However, some good batting from Jamie Seward (31), Christian Blackford (43) and Stuart Hornby (41), ensured Sulhamstead reached 178 from 49.3 overs.

Sulhamstead looked to be in pole position after their bowlers restricted Finchampstead to 17/4 - Craig Palmer took two early wickets on his way to figures of 4/28.

It was a game that ebbed and flowed, though, and Sulhamstead's batters fought back to 157/9, still 21 runs short.

The final wicket, however, eluded Sulhamstead and Finchampstead crept over the line with one wicket and seven balls to spare.

Despite defeat, there were impressive spells from Karanvir Panesar (2/24) and Sam Oppenheimer (2/35) in support of Palmer.

Elsewhere, Purley beat Falkland 2nd by nine runs - it was their first win of the season against the table toppers.

Purley recovered from a difficult start to post 214/7 thanks to 41 runs in the final five overs.

Purley's bowlers then restricted Falkland to 205/9 to ensure a much needed win.

Theale and Tilehurst were thrashed by 254 runs against Harpsden in Division 3a.

Harpsden posted a mammoth 399/7 from their 45 overs.

There were three wickets for Obaid Sarwar, two for Amandeep Singh, and a wicket apiece for Micheal Holder and Joshua Smyth.

From there, it was always going to be an uphill task for Theale - and the loss of a couple of early wickets made it even more difficult.

Obaid Sarwar (40) and Jacob Stoner (33) battled hard, but Theale were all-out for 145 against an impressive Harpsden side.