FINCHAMPSTEAD moved back up to third in the Home Counties Premier League Division Two table after gaining the better of a draw at home to Buckingham Town.

The visitors won the toss and asked Finch to bat first, and they made a positive start when Matt Jones played on with just eight runs on the board.

Steady batting from Max Stevenson and Dan Marles saw the score to 49 before Stevenson was caught off young seamer Jack Wilkins, but the arrival of Billy Rogers saw a long and fruitful partnership with his skipper.

The pair put on 125 in 26 overs before Rogers’ fine knock of 69 ended at 174 when he was lbw to the Buckingham skipper James Gear, and the same bowler then had Marles caught and bowled for an excellent 89 to make it 209-4.

A stroke-filled 42 from Lockie Ferguson assisted by the tail saw Finch to a competitive 280–7 in their 58 overs.

Buckingham Town started steadily through openers Ashley Pearson and Steve Brunning, the pair putting on 50 before off spinner Max Uttley had the former well caught in the deep by JJ Dewes.

With the fielder taking up his role in the spin attack, the visitors were restricted and were 95-1 off 25 overs before Brunning was stumped off Uttley for a workmanlike 52.

The visitors did not really show the necessary acceleration as the spinners bowled soundly and after 20 more overs they were 186-3 off 45 overs, Jonathan Cater having fallen to Ferguson for 21.

However, the final 11 overs provided a flurry of wickets as Uttley (5-59) completed another fine day at the office, while Max Stevenson accounted for Robert Large.

Finch were unable to claim the final three wickets, but take 14 points from the game to move back up the table.

However, it is all very close and they are just 13 points above ninth-placed Aston Rowant, who host Finchampstead this coming Saturday (11.30am).

Finchampstead 2nds saw their hopes of securing promotion from Thames Valley League Division 2a suffer a blow as they were beaten by two wickets at table-toppers Windsor.

Finch totalled 226–6 after being asked to bat, with skipper Tom Burrows again in the runs with 85, ably assisted by a well-struck 56 not out from Andy Lazenbury.

After a good start Windsor faltered but won with four balls remaining in a close finish. Finch claimed 13 points from the game to leave them in fourth place in the table.

In Division 3a, visitors Purley-on–Thames decided to bat at Finchampstead 3rds, but despite the good conditions they were all out for 82 in 35 overs.

Finch pacemen Ollie Bareham (4–26) and Sam Jenkins (3–30) did the damage before the hosts cruised to victory inside 15 overs.

Finchampstead 4ths had the better of a draw at neighbours Yateley 3rds in Division 7a. The visitors were asked to bat and rattled up 256-4 on the back of fine half centuries from Gareth Biggs (64) and Jim Dewes (56).

After losing their first four wickets for 45 Yateley had little chance to chase the runs down and eventually closed on 160–5 for the draw.

In Division 8a, Finchampstead 5ths collapsed to 71-8 against Eversley 4ths, before fine contributions from Ian Spooner (35) and Jed Crerar (30) helped them to 166.

Jermey Hammond (3-20) and Jon Kirton (2-30 along with two run outs) did the majority of the damage for the Boars.

Eversley lost two wickets to make things slightly uncomfortable for the Boars, but a century stand for the third wicket between Anup Urath (86no) and Hammond (40) settled the nerves in what proved a comfortable victory.