The visitors held the lead three times in the second half after goals from Kalifa Cisse, Ivar Ingimarsson and a double from Dave Kitson.

But Berbatov's strikes were the difference, with Steed Malbranque and Jermain Defoe grabbing the others.

Both sides went into the clash with a reputation for thrilling matches - and this dramatic topsy-turvy match was up there with Reading's 7-4 against Portsmouth.

Reading's team bus was held up in traffic and their squad had to be phoned through - but there was no delay in the action when play got under way.

The opener came in the seventh minute from a move started by Malbranque playing through Robbie Keane down the right flank.

Keane instinctively crossed first time and Berbatov squeezed between defenders and tapped in.

The equaliser came nine minutes later after Berbatov fouled Kevin Doyle on the halfway line.

Spurs goalkeeper Paul Robinson called to claim Nicky Shorey's free-kick and tried to punch as Younes Kaboul looked to clear. The ball fell limply to Cisse and the midfielder stabbed in the rebound from the edge of the area.

"Get out of my way," screamed Robinson at his defenders after the goal. It was not in his hall of shame but he was at fault.

He had to stay alert as Stephen Hunt's cross almost deceived him shortly after and he had to tip over the bar.

Bobby Convey was almost given a sight of goal when Pascal Chimbonda lost the ball but Kaboul got back to clear the danger.

Ingimarsson was equally careless for Reading in first-half stoppage-time, allowing Berbatov to cross - but Keane went with his wrong foot with the goal at his mercy and the chance went begging.

Kitson had a shot early in the second half and despite being awarded a corner, his effort had struck team-mate Doyle before spinning to safety.

Keane turned Ibrahima Sonko at the other end and claimed he was hauled to the floor in the area - but play was waved on.

Reading went ahead in the 53rd minute after Kaboul was forced to slide in to block a shot from Kitson. Shorey's corner found Ingimarsson, who was unmarked and thumped his header past Robinson for 2-1.

They could have extended the lead in their next move, Cisse's shot finding its way to Kitson through on goal - but the striker checked onto his favoured foot and Robinson cleared.

Spurs head coach Juande Ramos responded by taking off skipper Ledley King, who is still working himself back to full fitness, for Defoe.

The hosts looked exposed with a centre-back short and Robinson had to save from Hunt at full-stretch when Reading broke, then Kitson blazed wide.

But they were level in the 63rd minute when Defoe scampered down the right - his cross was weak but Graeme Murty failed to clear and Berbatov lashed into the roof of the net.

Inevitably it was from a set-piece that Reading took the lead again to go 3-2 up. Kitson stole in at the near post and headed in Shorey's corner.

But Berbatov levelled in the 72nd minute when he hooked in his hat-trick after Chimbonda headed down Jenas' corner from the right.

There was no sign of the pace stopping. Kitson raced through and chipped Robinson to make it 4-3, but Malbranque curled into the top corner to restore parity.

And Spurs were ahead again with 12 minutes remaining when Sonko brought down Keane in the area. Marcus Hahnemann saved Keane's spot-kick but Defoe slid in with a diving header to tuck away the rebound.

Berbatov scored his fourth in the 83rd minute, chasing a hopeful long ball and crashing in a volley from the edge of the area.

For all the effort, Spurs move up one place in the table, replacing Reading in 12th.