FINCHAMPSTEAD slipped to a five-wicket defeat to Burnham in their first game back in Division One of the Home Counties Premier League, writes Richard Ashton.

The visitors asked Finch to bat after winning the toss, and fine bowling from seamers Muhammad Haroon and Raminder Singh saw the early removal of Matt Jones.

Things got worse for the home side as Aftab Khan accounted for Adam Dewes before Adnan Malik (3-41) gained two quick wickets to leave Finch reeling on 40-4 in the 16th over.

Steady consolidation from the in-form Billy Rogers and Dan Lincoln gradually saw the scoreline move along with the 100 up in the 30th over.

Lincoln was trapped lbw by the returning Haroon (3-31) but Rogers completed a fine half century before falling to a skier for 71 attempting to push the score along.

Sukhi Kang (33) batted well with the tail but the hosts were dismissed for 205 with a ball of their 50 overs remaining.

Finch started well with Matt Carter bowling opener Omer Siddique second ball, but some attractive strokes from experienced opener Mohammed Fasal ensured the run rate started to improve.

Andy Rishton trapped Karan Kumar lbw before Carter (2-31) had Fazal caught by Rogers to leave Burnham in trouble at 45-3.

However, the experienced Khan was joined by skipper Harveer Gandam, and a fine partnership changed the complexion of the match.

The pair put on 113 before Gandam was caught for 45, and when Khan (86) soon followed – snaffled by Dan Marles in the deep off the bowling of Max Stevenson (2-50) – Burnham were 175-5 and Finch had a sniff.

However, Rizwan Radeem and Sajid Ali held their nerve to steer Burnham to a comfortable victory with more than eight overs to spare.

Finchampstead travel to Banbury this coming Saturday (11am), and are likely to be bolstered by South African import Jandre Coetzee.

The 32-year-old left-handed batsman and left arm medium pacer has played most recently for Northern Cape.

Finchampstead 2nds secured an excellent three-wicket win at Maidenhead & Bray in their Thames Valley League Division 2a clash.

The hosts batted first and were dismissed in their 52 overs for 221, seamer Matt Bell (4-48) and young spinner James Woodford (2-77 from 18 overs) impressing with the ball.

In reply, fine innings from Ed Oliver (66), Simon Bell (57) and Andy Lazenbury (47) secured the win with four overs remaining.

In Division 3a, a wonderful unbeaten 100 from Kwame Appiah inspired Finchampstead 3rds to a crushing 93-run success at home to Reading 3rds.

Finch declared on 246-5 after 51 overs, with Tom Potter also batting well for 31.

Reading’s reply never really got going as Sam Taylor (7-60) proved too good, the visitors eventually crashing to 153 all out.

Finchampstead 4ths bagged a four-wicket win at Yateley 3rds in Division 7a.

The hosts were restricted to 195-9 thanks to fine spells from James Beswick (4-44) and Steve West (2-20), and Khartik Khanti’s fine unbeaten 50 guided Finch to their target.

In Division 9a, Wargrave 3rds (256-4) had the better of a draw against Finchampstead 5ths (169-6).

Simon Eldridge (50) and Gary Woodford (31) were the mainstays of the hosts’ batting efforts.