Oxford remain bottom of the Division 1 table after failing to press home a winning position against Reading on Saturday.

The hosts, missing their skipper Ian Crosby, seemed set for their first victory of the season when they reduced Reading to 58-5 in pursuit of a victory target of 171.

But an important sixth-wicket stand of 92 between Praful Waghela and Jack Beaven saw the visitors to a narrow three-wicket success.

A generous helping of 17 extras helped Oxford openers Brad Sutherland and Vishane Perera put on 36 after they had been put in to bat.

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But both were soon dismissed and former Hampshire wicket-keeper-batsman Michael Bates contributed only 11 as they slipped to 59-3.

Middle-order batsmen Sean Thornton and Shami Mendis both scored enterprising 41s, off 61 and 57 balls respectively in an entertaining stand of 70 for the fourth wicket.

But the innings went into rapid decline after they were dismissed, with the last seven wickets falling for 41 as Oxford were all out for 170 in the 46th over.

Ian Slatcher and Martin Andersson each claimed three wickets.

Seamers Freddie Simon and Mark Beer gave Oxford hope by ripping through Reading’s top order.

Both took two wickets, while Sutherland’s run out of Amardeep Dosanjh left the visitors in deep trouble at 58-5.

But opener Waghela found a good partner in Beavan to turn the game around.

Although Beer eventually dismissed Waghela – stumped by Bates for 71 – to finish with figures of 3-37, Beaven remained unbeaten on 38 to see Reading home in the 40th over and leave Oxford bottom.