TITLE-CHASING High Wycombe were held to a draw by lowly Reading in the latest round of Home Counties Premier League action.

Skipper Nathan Hawkes top-scored with 87 for the London Roaders and Garth Davson, at the top of the order supplied 50 and George Russell, 52 not out, but it wasn’t enough to give them a winning total as Jack Beavan returned figures of 6-73, to reduce the champions to 280 all out.

That looked like a winnable total when Khurram Rana was caught by Paul Sawyer leaving second-from bottom Reading rocking on 8-1.

However the visitors dug in and their determination was summed up by number eight batsman Ryan James who hit 54 not out as Reading got their draw despite James Benning taking 4-44.

Meanwhile, Gerrards Cross remain rooted to the foot of the Home Counties Premier League Division Two following an eight wicket thrashing at the hands Shipton-under-Wychwood.

Harry Nichols was the only Cross batsman to make an impact with 68 but none of the other top seven reached double figures.

Calvin Dickinson then demonstrated how inadequate the Cross’ total of 152 was as he plundered 84 runs off 47 balls as Shipton wrapped things up before tea.

In the Thames Valley League, Marlow beat Windsor by three wickets thanks to two fine bowling performances.

Jeremy Batty and Imran Nawaz shared all ten Windsor wickets between them with Nawaz claiming 5-44 and Batty 5-51 to reduce Windsor to 154-all out after 44.1 overs.