Home Counties Premier League: Oxford produced a fighting display to hold leaders Reading to a draw in a fluctuating Division 1 encounter at St Catherine's College, Marston on Saturday.

Having been put in to bat, Oxford made a lively start only to find themselves in a spot of bother at 60-3 with Keith Mustow, Johnny Nambiar and Stewart Laudat all back in the pavilion.

Shahbaz Ali then struck form for the first time this season.

But when he fell for a fluent 35, and Adam Cook and Ian Crosby went cheaply, Reading were again firmly in the driving seat with the home side on 133-6.

However, Ian Evans and Robbie Eason then came together and showed plenty of determination and character in a seventh-wicket stand.

They put on 66 in 22 overs, before Evans was run out for 45, but Eason continued to keep the scoreboard ticking over to finish unbeaten on 40 as Oxford closed on 243-9 from their 66 overs.

Oxford's total was boosted by 48 extras - which included five penalty runs for a delivery from Michael O'Sullivan which hit a helmet on the outfield.

Leg-spinner David Hartley was the pick of the Reading bowlers, taking 4-67 from 25 overs.

Jon Perkins and Amir Muneer got Reading off to a good start in reply, putting on 78 for the first wicket, before off spinner Adam Cook bowled Perkins.

With Tom Fray soon into his stride, Reading maintained their momentum and it took a brilliant catch by Eason, running back at mid-wicket to pouch a ball which had travelled over his head, off the bowling of Ian Evans to dismiss Muneer for 58.

But with Fray and Bjorn Mordt scoring well, Reading kept up the chase and looked on course for victory, needing 51 off the last eight overs with eight wickets in hand.

However, then Nambiar made the breakthrough, trapping Fray lbw for 53, with the score on 193.

After Barber was run out, Cook, producing his best spell this season, took the crucial wicket of Mordt, whose 49 had come at a run a ball.

With Reading losing two further wickets, the game fizzled out into a draw, with the visitors closing on 221-7.

OXFORD

K Mustow c Mordt b Edwards...7

J Nambiar c Muneer b Aeri...12

S Laudat c Kirk b O'Sullivan...21

Shahbaz Ali c Kirk b O'Sullivan...35

A Cook b Hartley...15

I Crosby b Hartley...4

I Evans run out...45

R Eason not out...40

Mohson Rana st Kirk b Hartley...11

R Buchanan c Fray b Hartley...3

R Evans not out...3

Extras...48

Total (9 wkts, 66 ov)...243

Fall: 1-34, 2-50, 3-60, 4-107, 5-112, 6-133, 7-199, 8-219, 9-225.

Bowling: Edwards 14-1-48-1, Aeri 8-0-40-1, O'Sullivan 19-4-55-2, Hartley 25-8-67-4.

READING

J Perkins b Cook...27

A Muneer c Eason b Evans...58

T Gran lbw Nambiar...53

B Mordt b Cook...49

J Barber run out...3

S Shaw c Buchanan b Nambiar...0

R Kirk not out...9

V Aeri st Buchanan b Cook...3

G Edwards not out...0

Extras...19

Total (7 wkts, 54 ov)...221

Fall: 1-78, 2-125, 3-193, 4-209, 5-209, 6-211, 7-221.

Bowling: Laudat 5-1-30-0, Mohson Rana 5-0-24-0, Cook 16-0-52-3, R Evans 14-3-35-0, I Evans 6-0-24-1, Nambiar 8-0-45-2.

Oxford 13 pts, Reading 10