FINCHAMPSTEAD’S poor run of form in the Home Counties Premier League Division Two continued as they slipped to a heart-breaking two-wicket reverse at runaway leaders Great & Little Tew.

Having been asked to bat first by the hosts, Finch soon lost Andrew House leaving skipper Dan Marles to join Matt Jones and build the innings.

Solid batting saw 39 on the board before Marles was caught, but Billy Rogers joined Jones in adding 50 for the third wicket until the Jones was run out for 45.

Hosts captain Andy Harris joined the attack and his medium pace accounted for Dan Lincoln and Simon Bell to leave Finch on 118–5, but fine batting from Rogers (62) and Max Stevenson (39) saw them share a 72-run partnership until the former was dismissed with the score on 190.

JJ Dewes and Stevenson fell soon after but Finch were able to post a respectable 218-9 from their 58 overs.

Great & Little Tew openers Joe White (58) and Jordan Garrett (49) were soon in their stride in reply, scoring at will against a succession of unfortunate Finch bowlers.

It was spinner Max Uttley (pictured right) who eventually made the breakthrough, removing White with the score on 104, and he later caught and bowled Garrett to leave the hosts 132-2.

With Dewes and Uttley bowling in tandem, Finch hauled themselves back into the game as firstly Martin Coetzee was caught at slip off Dewes and then Harry Smith was well held by Andrew House at mid off to leave Tew 154-4.

Finch kept the pressure on as the ball turned for the spinners, and two further wickets fell with the score on 183 as Uttley accounted for Ashley Hubbert and Matt Clark fell to a fine running catch by Callum Gregory in the deep off Dewes.

Six balls later and the seventh was down as Rob Sharmer was run out in a mix up, and then at 207 Uttley caught and bowled Joe Thomas after the tailender had struck hit some lofty blows.

However, Finchampstead’s hopes of a stunning win were dashed thanks to Matt Woods and Oxfordshire star Harris, the pair holding their nerve to take Great & Little Tew home.

Finch have dropped to seventh in the table and will be hoping to get back to winning ways when the host Buckingham Town on Saturday (11.30am).

Finchampstead 2nds played out a memorable tie during an astonishing Thames Valley League Division 2a clash at home to Old Merchant Taylors.

The visitors batted first and closed on 285–9 in their 52 overs, Armaan Mahmood top scoring with 75 as young spinner James Woodford again excelled with superb figures of 5–80.

Finch went for the score and were assisted by fine knocks from skipper Tom Burrows (79), Sam Taylor (77) and Russell Lane (44), leaving their side requiring seven runs from the final three overs with three wickets in hand.

However, Mahmood (5-73) bowled a wicket maiden before Uzair Khan’s over went for just a single as well as the wicket of Ollie Bareham.

With six needed off the final over Woodford took a single before Wes Healis struck a boundary, but the batsman could not connect with the final ball and was stumped, leaving both sides with 15 points at the end of an outstanding game of cricket.

In Division 3a, Finchampstead 3rds suffered a 72-run defeat at Newbury.

The hosts totalled 220–8 thanks to fine knocks by Nick Fitzwilliam (54), Ed Uden (42) and Sat Pal (40), while seamer Sam Jenkins took 4–43 for Finch.

A remarkable innings for Finchampstead saw six of their batsmen dismissed for ducks – including the bottom five – as they were all out for 148, of which Scott Osler scored a sensational 101 not out.

Chief destroyers for Newbury were captain Kevin Mills (6-28) and Charlie Anstey (4-82), the latter taking his tally for the season to an impressive 37.

The game between Finchampstead 4ths and Newbury 2nds in Division 7a was abandoned due to problems with the ground.

In Division 8a, Finchampstead 5ths conceded 238–8 to Windsor 4ths as Kartic Khanki took 5–42, and they were later 153 all out with Cameron Ellis (38) top scoring.

FINCHAMPSTEAD’S poor run of form in the Home Counties Premier League Division Two continued as they slipped to a heart-breaking two-wicket reverse at runaway leaders Great & Little Tew.

Having been asked to bat first by the hosts, Finch soon lost Andrew House leaving skipper Dan Marles to join Matt Jones and build the innings.

Solid batting saw 39 on the board before Marles was caught, but Billy Rogers joined Jones in adding 50 for the third wicket until the Jones was run out for 45.

Hosts captain Andy Harris joined the attack and his medium pace accounted for Dan Lincoln and Simon Bell to leave Finch on 118–5, but fine batting from Rogers (62) and Max Stevenson (39) saw them share a 72-run partnership until the former was dismissed with the score on 190.

JJ Dewes and Stevenson fell soon after but Finch were able to post a respectable 218-9 from their 58 overs.

Great & Little Tew openers Joe White (58) and Jordan Garrett (49) were soon in their stride in reply, scoring at will against a succession of unfortunate Finch bowlers.

It was spinner Max Uttley (pictured right) who eventually made the breakthrough, removing White with the score on 104, and he later caught and bowled Garrett to leave the hosts 132-2.

With Dewes and Uttley bowling in tandem, Finch hauled themselves back into the game as firstly Martin Coetzee was caught at slip off Dewes and then Harry Smith was well held by Andrew House at mid off to leave Tew 154-4.

Finch kept the pressure on as the ball turned for the spinners, and two further wickets fell with the score on 183 as Uttley accounted for Ashley Hubbert and Matt Clark fell to a fine running catch by Callum Gregory in the deep off Dewes.

Six balls later and the seventh was down as Rob Sharmer was run out in a mix up, and then at 207 Uttley caught and bowled Joe Thomas after the tailender had struck hit some lofty blows.

However, Finchampstead’s hopes of a stunning win were dashed thanks to Matt Woods and Oxfordshire star Harris, the pair holding their nerve to take Great & Little Tew home.

Finch have dropped to seventh in the table and will be hoping to get back to winning ways when the host Buckingham Town on Saturday (11.30am).

Finchampstead 2nds played out a memorable tie during an astonishing Thames Valley League Division 2a clash at home to Old Merchant Taylors.

The visitors batted first and closed on 285–9 in their 52 overs, Armaan Mahmood top scoring with 75 as young spinner James Woodford again excelled with superb figures of 5–80.

Finch went for the score and were assisted by fine knocks from skipper Tom Burrows (79), Sam Taylor (77) and Russell Lane (44), leaving their side requiring seven runs from the final three overs with three wickets in hand.

However, Mahmood (5-73) bowled a wicket maiden before Uzair Khan’s over went for just a single as well as the wicket of Ollie Bareham.

With six needed off the final over Woodford took a single before Wes Healis struck a boundary, but the batsman could not connect with the final ball and was stumped, leaving both sides with 15 points at the end of an outstanding game of cricket.

In Division 3a, Finchampstead 3rds suffered a 72-run defeat at Newbury.

The hosts totalled 220–8 thanks to fine knocks by Nick Fitzwilliam (54), Ed Uden (42) and Sat Pal (40), while seamer Sam Jenkins took 4–43 for Finch.

A remarkable innings for Finchampstead saw six of their batsmen dismissed for ducks – including the bottom five – as they were all out for 148, of which Scott Osler scored a sensational 101 not out.

Chief destroyers for Newbury were captain Kevin Mills (6-28) and Charlie Anstey (4-82), the latter taking his tally for the season to an impressive 37.

The game between Finchampstead 4ths and Newbury 2nds in Division 7a was abandoned due to problems with the ground.

In Division 8a, Finchampstead 5ths conceded 238–8 to Windsor 4ths as Kartic Khanki took 5–42, and they were later 153 all out with Cameron Ellis (38) top scoring.