Oxford skipper Rupert Evans's five-wicket haul wasn't enough to force victory against Reading in Division 1 at Roman Way as the visitors' last pair held out for a draw.

Defending 187 all out after being put in to bat, Oxford reduced the visitors to 0-2 and 22-4.

Evans then picked up 5-35 off 20 overs, but the last pair played out the final five overs to see Reading to 147-9.

Earlier, Amit Suman (46) and Ian Evans (44) had shone in Oxford's innings as Patel picked up 6-51.

OXFORD

A Nambiar lbw Peters...10

P Jobson b Peters...3

S Laudat c Fray b Aeri...14

A Cook lbw S Patel...23

I Crosby c&b S Patel...14

I Evans c Eaglesham b Ali...44

G Charlesworth lbw Patel...6

A Suman lbw Patel...46

P Evans c Liddell b Patel...7

S Rana lbw Patel...0

R Evans not out...1

Extras...19

Total (all out, 58.5ovs)...187

Fall: 1-0, 2-29, 3-50, 4-56, 5-82, 6-88, 7-172, 8-182, 9-183.

Bowling: Aeri 8-0-33-1, Peters 20-5-55-2, Patel 17.5-2-51-6, Liddell 7-2-15-0, Ali 6-0-22-1.

READING

J Perkins lbw Suman...0

S Shaw lbw Suman...6

D Bair c Jobson b Suman...0

T Fray st Shazad Rana b R Evans...57

N Winspear c Jobson b Charlesworth...6

S Patel c Charlesworth b R Evans...21

C Peters b R Evans...11

R Liddell lbw R Evans...21

V Aeri not out...21

O Ali not out...1

Extras...3

Total (9 wkts, 61ovs)...147

Fall: 1-0, 2-0, 3-7, 4-22, 5-56, 6-77, 7-123, 8-129, 9-135.

Bowling: Suman 21-8-49-3, Charlesworth 9-3-28-1, R Evans 20-7-35-5, P Evans 9-4-16-0, I Evans 1-0-9-0, Laudat 1-0-7-0.

Oxford 14pts, Reading 9