DIVISION ONE: Harefield 90-3 (20pts) beat Amersham 87 (1pt) by seven wickets

After Fraser Wilson (1-32 from 15 overs) accounted for Chris Flemming (9) the Zimbabwe pace bowler got stuck into the Amersham top order, claiming the next six wickets on the way to six for 30 from 16 overs.

No one withstood the onslaught for long as Amersham slumped to 56 for seven before Chris Owen top scored with 21, adding 21 with T Dixon (10).

However, once Akshay Reddy (1-15) removed Owen, Doug King (2-7 from 5.3 overs) wrapped up the Amersham effort on 87 all out from 42.3 overs.

Richard McLeod, back in the Hare-field line-up, cast aside his usual dogged batting and plundered a rapid 48 from just 42 deliveries to all but see Harefield home.

With fellow opener Terry Crabb, who made a more sedate 27 from 37 including two sixes, McLeod put on 73 for the first wicket to get the visitors to within 15 runs of victory and although they and Wilson (0) fell in quick succession, Ollie Wilson (12 not out) did the rest as Hare-field got home in 16 overs.

The win maintained Harefield's pursuit of Beaconsfield, who beat Woking-ham II to record their ninth win from 10 games to remain 31 points clear of the Hares. The long-time leaders show no sign of letting up in their chase for the title and Harefield's trip to Beaconsfield on August 2 looks increasingly decisive.

DIVISION 3A: North Maidenhead II 172 (23pts) Hillingdon Manor 112 (6pts) by 60 runs

THIS weekend's local derby with fellow strugglers Harefield II could prove pivotal after relegation candidates Hillingdon Manor squandered a strong position against North Maidenhead II and began to lose touch with the teams above.

Manor reduced North Maidenhead to 13 for three but dropping Patel twice when on 16 cost them dear as he went on to make 69 out of his side's 172 all out.

Gary Higgins then top scored with just 28 as Manor slid to defeat and having slipped 31 points behind Harefield, who banked 20 in their win over Amersham II, they can ill afford to lose on Saturday.

With clouds looming Simon Webb put Maidenhead into bat and was soon rewarded as the ball zipped about and Stephen Duce (3-40) picked up a couple of quick wickets.

Aftab Akram also had the visiting captain caught at gully but from 13 for three it was downhill as Patel rescued Maid-enhead until becoming one of off-spin-ner Dale Morris's (3-38) three scalps.

However, Asif Aziz (32 not out) marshalled the tail well to see his side to 172 and that proved sufficient against a disappointing Manor response.

Higgins continued his promising start at the club and the experienced Azim Karim looked comfortable until departing for 20 and Maidenhead wrapped up the innings inside 40 overs, Khan taking five for 21 to wrap up victory by 60 runs. [25a0] The seconds fared no better against Division 5A leaders Theale & Tilehurst, who made a formidable 273 for five before declaring after 40 overs with

Colin Smith making 118. Spinner Scott Morris bowled tightly to pick up three wickets but Manor's top order was blown away as they slumped to 22 for five.

Skipper Julian Corbin (33) and Chris Burles (19) showed some resistance but when both fell in quick succession Manor were soon dismissed for just 85.

* The third XI suffered more disappointment in their important game with Amer-sham, who are also battling to climb out of danger in Division 8B.

Manor made 160 for four with Gulum Sherali (60 not out) top scoring and Jon-Paul Gates making 28, but a rain break late in the innings did not help.

Manor were always in the game as they restricted Amersham to 120 for five, with Qasim Khan picking up two wickets, but Amersham batted well to get home with three wickets in hand.

* On Sunday Manor beat Cookham Dean by 14 runs after Aftab Akram recorded his first century of the season off just 91 balls, including four sixes as Manor made 187 for six.

Cookham reached 119 for two in reply before spinners Zab Akram (3-37) and Rob Gearney (4-15) dismissed them for 173.

The two clubs' second teams also played each other and the result was reversed as Cookham reached 217 all out despite Paul Robinson taking five for 37. Manor slipped to 35 for four before Adam Pike (60) and Chris Smith (77) both made their maiden senior half-centuries in a stand of 153, yet when Pike was dismissed with 60 still needed, 14-year-old Nick Ely chipped in with a rapid 12 only to fall in quick succession with Smith and the increasing run rate was too much as Manor were bowled out for 199.