SPIN twins Sajid Aziz and Zulfi Butt turned the tables on Falkland as Thames Valley League Division One table-toppers Stoke Green earned a 37-run victory in a low-scoring thriller, writes Richard Ashton.

Visitors Falkland put themselves in a fine position as Paul Jenkins (3-15), Jason Williams (2-18) and Hamza Riazuddin (2-41) reduced Stoke to 65-8.

However, Butt made an unbeaten 21, and aided by Saud Ahmed’s 22, the hosts were able to scramble to 113.

Falkland’s reply could not have gone much worse, slipping as they did to 4-2, 17-4 and latterly 36-9 in the face of some superb bowling from Aziz (6-37) and Butt.

Craig Williams and Matt Richardson more than doubled the score with a gutsy last-wicket stand of 40, but the former eventually fell to Butt (4-29) and the game was up.

Seventh-placed Falkland visit Cove this Saturday (1pm).

Thatcham Town remain in Division 2b relegation trouble following a four-wicket defeat to Slough 2nds.

They remain just one place outside the drop zone after slipping to another loss.

Thatcham fell to 52-4 before Jack Young (70) and Tom Mahoney (31) steadied the ship, but there was little resistance down the order as the visitors were bowled out for 184.

Chris Bird wheeled away for 18 overs in the Slough reply, claiming 4-62, but that was not enough as Mohammed Awais’s unbeaten 67 took his side to glory.

Thatcham Town travel to Royal Ascot on Saturday (1pm).

In Division 3a, Newbury returned to winning ways following their five-match winless run with a comfortable 73-run dismissal of Purley-on-Thames.

Openers Charlie Anstey (62) and Neil Farrow led from the front before Ed Uden (35) and Rajeev Hanabe (30) chipped in to take Newbury to a total of 219, Robbie Jeffrey 4-27 the pick of the Potters’ bowling attack.

Their run chase started badly after James Measham was trapped lbw by Kevin Mills (3-22), and despite Arshad Mohammed’s unbeaten 52, Purley were bowled out for 146. Anstey completed a fine all-round display with 4-25 in a man-of-the-match performance.

Newbury are at home to Eversley 2nds this Saturday (1pm).

Will Herrington (121no) and Alex Hutchinson (42no) put on a club record unbeaten 134 for Berkshire Cricket League Premier Division basement boys Welford Park as they stunned leaders West Reading by five wickets.

Adam Davidson top scored with 78 as Wests were bowled out for 220, Herrington the pick of the attack with 3-27.

The visitors looked on course for a routine victory when they reduced Park to 88-5, but Herrington and Hutchinson had other ideas in creating the shock of the season so far.

Welford Park host Mortimer West End this Saturday (1pm).