DAN Lincoln produced a remarkable innings as Finchampstead clinched a vital 76-run win at Home Counties Premier League title rivals High Wycombe.

The big-hitting batsman blasted 74 off just 39 deliveries with an astonishing eight sixes and five fours.

But he was only one of several batsmen to turn the game around after Finch had lost openers Andy Rishton (0) and Andrew House (20) with only 21 on the board.

Skipper Dan Marles, who had won the toss, and Matt Jones improved the total to 79 before the latter was caught in the slips for 36.

Greg Smith was next to depart for 12 to leave Finchampstead 102-4 in the 28th over.

This brought Lincoln to the crease to join Marles – and the fireworks started with the Wycombe bowlers being hammered to all parts of the ground.

The former Reading FC goalkeeper was particularly severe on the spinners as he dominated a fifth-wicket partnership of 81 in 11 overs, with Marles contributing just seven.

Lincoln was eventually caught in the deep off the bowling of Adam Dobb, who then trapped Sukhi Kang for a duck.

Marles survived 158 minutes at the crease – during which 198 runs were scored – and was on 56 when he was caught at mid-off, with Dobb again the bowler.

With seven down for 219 off 48.4 overs, more runs looked essential in the fast-scoring conditions and these arrived from Jandre Coetzee and Matt Carter.

They added 70 in eight overs with Carter cracking 42 off 22 balls with three maximums and four fours, while Coetzee smashed 59 off 65with two sixes and six fours.

With JJ Dewes run out for 12, the Finchampstead innings closed with a very respectable 318 on the board. Five wickets went to Dobb but he had conceded 144 in 22 overs.

If Wycombe were to get anywhere near their target , they needed to get off to a good start, but they didn’t with Carter taking two wickets with successive deliveries.

And when Coetzee had skipper Nathan Hawkes brilliantly caught down the leg side by keeper Kang, the home side were reeling at 28-3.

A steady partnership of 64 between Gavin Baker and James Benning (32) lifted the total to 92 before the latter fell to another Kang catch, this time off spinner Dewes.

The same bowler yorked George Russell (10) and he also ended the innings of opener Baker, whose patient 72 came off 94 balls.

Coetzee returned to the attack and removed David Cranfield-Thompson for 37 and Cameron Parsons for a duck to leave Wycombe 190-8 with 43 overs completed.

There was late resistance from Alan Duncan and No 10 Dobb with the pair putting on 51 to lift the total to 241.

With three overs to go skipper Marles brought himself on for his first bowl since the win over Henley on June 14 – and he met with instant success.

His second ball saw Duncan (55) find the hands of Smith at square leg and three balls later he trapped Amjab lbw to seal victory with 13 balls remaining.

Dewes finished with 2-2, Coetzee 3-40, JJ Dewes 3-103 and Carter 2-17.
Finchampstead and Henley, winners over Reading, remain neck and neck in the title race, followed by Banbury and Wycombe.

This week they take on sixth-in-the-table Tring Park at home.

In the Thames Valley League, Finchampstead 2nds remain 60 points clear in Division 2a after being held to a draw by fifth-placed Chesham 2nds.

The visitors recovered from 120-6 to 220 (Julian Swain 100) with spinners Adam Dewes taking 4 -76 and James Woodford 3-21.

Dewes went on to make 61, Simon Bell 49 and Kwame Appiah in Finch’s reply of 206-9. They are away to Tring Park 2nds this weekend.

In Division 3a, Finchampstead 3rds dismissed Newbury for 94 with Matt Harper taking 3-9 and Matt Bell 3-37 and looked set for victory at 47-1 (Josh Lincoln 25), but they collapsed to 68 all out with Charlie Anstey returning figures of 9.2-3-39-7.

Tom Potter hit 133 not out and Matt Eldridge 71 to help Finchampstead 4ths reach 225-4 and then paceman Liam Matthews took 8-41 to dismiss Bracknell 2nds for 159.

This win leaves Finch 76 points clear in the Division 7a table.

In Division 9a, second-placed Finch 5ths made 236-4 after an unbeaten century from Mac Keast and then dismissed Kidmore End for 86 thanks to Mike Dykes (5-34) and Ahmet Tuney (4-19).