FINCHAMPSTEAD CC moved to the brink of Home Counties Premier League Division One glory by thrashing relegation-threatened Reading by 108 runs.

The hosts asked Finch to bat first and made an early breakthrough when Jack Beaven bowled his former teammate Andy Rishton with the score on 26.

Billy Rogers and Adam Dewes put on 54 for the second wicket until the former gloved a Phil Brennan delivery to wicketkeeper Firaz Amjad, and when acting captain Matt Jones was caught by Beaven off Qasim Ali, Finch were 107-3.

Dan Lincoln counter-attacked with a better than a run-a-ball 39, but his departure with the score on 184 merely heralded the arrival of South African star Jandre Coetzee.

He blasted 63 not out from just 41 balls, and with Dewes (102 not out from 126 balls) reaching a brilliant century in the final over, the pair added 96 from the last 12 overs to lead their side to 280-4.

Coetzee then tore into the Reading batting line-up by removing Pav Chima, Rajeesh Singh and Asim Zaka in his opening three overs to leave the hosts in dire straits on 9-3.

Firaz Amjad and Brennan took the score to 29 before the former became Coetzee’s fourth wicket, caught at slip by Matt Carter.

JJ Dewes had Brennan stumped by Sukhi Kang to make it 52-5 before accounting for Ali and captain Bobby Malik shortly afterwards.

Fellow spinner Max Uttley had Khurran Rana caught by Carter to leave Reading on the brink at 66-8, but fine batting from Beaven (63 from 55 balls) and youngster Salman Khaliq took the score to 120 when Beaven fell to the returning Coetzee (5-33).

More resistance came in the form of last man Chris Dishington (34no), and Reading had reached some respectability when Khaliq was bowled by Uttley for 27 to leave his side 172 all out.

Finchampstead are 35 points clear at the top with two games to go and will seal a first championship since 2001 if they take six points from their home game against Slough (11am).

In the Thames Valley League, Division 2a leaders Finchampstead 2nds could only bowl 11 overs before their game with Marlow Park (37-1) was abandoned, while there was no play in Division 3a between Finchampstead 3rds and leaders Aldershot.

In Division 9a, Finchampstead 5ths (176-8) beat Yateley 4ths (112) by 64 runs to stay joint top of the table with Boyne Hill 4ths.