BERKSHIRE, Mid Bucks and Chilterns League Championship favourites were given an almighty scare before finally sealing a dramatic one-wicket win at Ley Hill, writes Richard Ashton.

Harpsden chose to field after winning the toss, but it looked a mistake as Ben Moultrie-Ford and the prolific Craig Peterson (59) put on 148 for the opening wicket.

Moultrie-Ford continued on his way to an impressive unbeaten 114, allowing Ley Hill to post a competitive 256-3 from their 45 overs.

Australian import Blake Hogan Keogh continued his fine summer with 64 at the top of the Harpsden reply, and skipper Christian Whittaker then blasted 79 from just 47 balls to keep his side going.

However, his departure left the visitors 233-9 and facing a first defeat of the season, only for Ed Birkett and Abdul Khaliq to get their side over the line, finishing on 260-9 with five and a half overs to spare.

Holmer Green leapfrogged Checkendon into second spot after picking up a 62-run away win.

Tony Breakspear (3-38) and Rama Adigantla (3-39) put Checks in a good position by bowling their opponents out for 168, but a batting collapse inspired by Jake Gumb's 4-27 left the hosts 106 all out in reply.

John Cockcroft's 80 and figures of 5-29 for Toby Radford inspired Penn & Tylers Green to a first win of the season as they came away from Ruislip Victoria with a 38-run success.

Ilija Krunic had earlier bowled well for the Victorians as they dismissed Penn for 178, but there was little resistance to Radford and Raunak Biswas (3-22) as Ruislip crashed to 140 all out.

Peppard Stoke Row also claimed their first win from the jaws of defeat as they overcame hosts Braywood by 39 runs.

Jamie Sharrock (57) offered the only real resistance as PSR slumped to 122 all out, Attiq Uddin (3-25) and Kamran Hafeez (3-28) the destroyers-in-chief.

However, Braywood then capitulated to just 83 all out as Sam Fooks (4-48) and Alfie Burnett (3-11) got to work with the new ball.

Zain Raja took league record figures of a remarkable 8-8 to help West Reading (149) beat winless Ballinger Wagonners (77) by 72 runs.