WOKINGHAM had Home Counties Premier League Division Two title-chasers Oxford hanging on for a draw in a rain-affected game on Saturday.

The Oaks made 188-8 from 51 overs after being put in to bat, with the visitors finishing their 45-overs reply on 122-8, five of the wickets falling to Max Uttley.

The Sadlers End men are not entirely out of the promotion race themselves as their total of 216 leaves them 30 points behind Oxford who are in second place behind Thame Town. But they will probably need to win at least three of their remaining game and hope other results go their way if they are to finish up in the top two.

Wokingham are a rather frustrating side as, with the experience and talent they possess, more wins should have come their way, and their batters also lack consistency.

Their top five only managed 110 between them – Danny Housego scoring 31 and Archie Carter 27 – and it was left to the middle-order to get their side up to a decent total against Oxford.

Jacob Clark cracked 43 from 61 balls with the help of six boundaries and Sukhi Kang (25), and it was largely their contributions, along with 15 from Iain Muirden, that left Oxford with a bigger run chase than they had earlier anticipated.

A 45-minute delay because of rain left the visitors with 45 overs for their reply. They started promisingly with an opening stand of 35, but slumped to 46-4 with two wickets apiece for Uttley and Paul Dewick.

Clark followed up by taking a return catch off his own bowling to dismiss Fergus Nutt (15), making it 74-5 before spinner Uttley claimed three more victims, leaving Oxford 111-7.

Ten runs later an lbw decision in Uttley's favour saw Rob Craze's defiant innings of 50 come to an end, and it also led to Oxford shutting up shop and playing out for a draw, finishing on 122-8.

Uttley claimed 5-47 from 18 overs, Dewick 2-21 and Clark 1-10

Oaks' remaining four fixtures are all over the 50-50 format, the first of which is this Saturday away to already-relegated Dinton.