FINCHAMPSTEAD are facing two vital games as they look to bounce back to form after losing to Home Councites Premier League Division One leaders Aston Rowant on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

They were skittled out for 182 in 57 overs with the visitors cruising to a six-wicket win in 39 overs.

“It wasn’t a good day at the office for us,” admitted skipper Dan Lincoln, whose side picked up just six bonus points.

“After how well we have been playing in recent weeks, it was a disappointing performance. We had an off-day and will be looking to put it behind us at Oxford next Saturday.”

Finch remain fourth from bottom on 122 points, with Horspath (111), Oxford (90) – who drew with each other last weekend – and tailed-off Thame Town (65) all below them.

Their next two fixtures are away to Oxford and Horspath – games they ideally need to win if they are to reach the safety of a mid-table position.

Aston Rowant came to Finchampstead on an excellent run of seven wins in 10 league games and Lincoln knew if his side were to upset the form book they would need to get off to a good start while enjoying a slice of luck. They got neither after being put in to bat.

Greg Smith was dismissed for a four-ball duck and fellow opener Adam Dewes was run out for seven when bowler Leo Bethell deflected a return drive from Ed Oliver onto the stumps.

Lincoln hit three boundaries before being caught at wide mid-off for 16, and Ryan Quinn, lbw for one, and Simon Bell (8) were dismissed in quick succession to leave Finch in trouble at 59-5.

Ed Oliver was looking the only batsman to play with any patience or confidence as he saw two more wickets fall at the other end, with Josh Lincoln departing for 11 after hitting a six and a four, and Zafar Ali was caught behind for a duck, making it 79-7.

However, this brought Oliver and Darren Augustus together and they worked hard to dig their side out of a big hole, taking the total to 147 before Oliver got a top edge to an Adam Muttitt delivery and was caught down the leg side by keeper Josh Smith. His 47 came off 128 balls, five of which he dispatched to the boundary.

An even better turning ball from Muttitt saw Craig Hodges bowled second ball, with the total still on 147.

Augustus and Jamie Woodford (7no) added 35 for the last wicket, which ended when the former became Muttitt’s (3-24) third victim of the match.

Finch were all out for 182 in the 57th over – a total that was close to 100 runs short of a competitive total on a good batting strip.

Quinn, being watched by his family who have flown over from New Zealand for a holiday, had Rowant opener Andy Tolson caught behind by Bell for five (16-1), but there was no further success for the home attack until the Oxon side had taken their total to 168.

Left-hander George Reid made 79 off 105 balls and Tom Condon (75) both fell in quick succession to the spin of Woodford, who finished with 2-57 off 14 overs.

The league leaders – 19 points clear of second-placed Slough – lost another wicket in the space of nine runs with Smith being snapped up by Dan Lincoln off his brother Josh’s bowling before reaching their target at 184-4 in the 39th over.

In Division 3a of the Thames Valley League, Finchampstead 3rds won by 15 runs at Farnham Royal. Finches made 160 (Sean Woodward 45) and dismissed their hosts for 145, Parth Patel with 6-44.