FINCHAMPSTEAD’s resurgence in Division One of the Home Counties Premier League continued as they had by far the better of a draw at Burnham, writes Richard Ashton.

The reigning champions lost their opening three games, but have since returned to form with a brace of wins and a solid performance in the first of the season’s timed games on Saturday.

Finch suffered an early setback after winning the toss and choosing to bat, Andrew House falling for six after his was caught by Fahad Raja off the bowling of Raminder Singh.

Dan Marles was castled by the same bowler with the score on 43, but an excellent 126-run stand for the third wicket between Greg Smith and Billy Rogers put the away side on top.

The latter was bowled by Sulaiman Javed for 68, but Smith continued on his merry way until he too was bowled, Aftab Khan dismissing him for a well-made 86 to leave Finch 217-4.

In-form Dan Lincoln kept up the momentum, though, smashing six boundaries and three maximums in his unbeaten 79 from 80 balls as Finchampstead ended their 64 overs on a competitive 293-5.

Anthony Parson made an early breakthrough in Burnham’s reply, Shahbaz Alam superbly caught by Smith in the gully with the score on 21.

JJ Dewes accounted for the hosts’ skipper Harvey Gandam to make it 59-2, and then bowled Fahad Raja with just one more added to the total.

Finchampstead continued to tighten their grip on the game when Craig Hodges bowled Aftab Khan, and when Gurpreet Basran was stumped by Lincoln off the bowling of Dewes, Burnham were 87-5.

Karan Kumar and Singh steadied the ship with a 46-run stand for the sixth wicket, but it was Dewes (4-58 off 19 overs) who ended the partnership, bowling Singh to leave the visitors wobbling on 133-6.

Jandre Coetzee trapped Javed lbw as Burnham continued to struggle, but Kumar and Adnan Malik (36no) rose to the challenge well.

Kumar was eventually lbw to Max Uttley for a match-saving 57, but Burnham were able to hang on to the draw with their final score 204-8.

Fourth-placed Finchampstead are 17 points behind new leaders Henley, and host Banbury this coming Saturday (11am).

Finchampstead 2nds had the better of their draw with Cookham Dean in Division One of the Thames Valley League.

Josh Lincoln smashed the ball to all parts in his knock of 75 from just 48 balls, which included eight boundaries and four sixes.

He was well supported by opener Russell Lane (55 from 56 balls) and captain Simon Bell (62), but useful spells from Zimbabwean Tapiwa Mufudza (5-86) and Simret Mangat (4-63) ensured the home side were bowled out for 292 in 51.4 overs.

The visitors’ reply started badly as openers Ben Millar and Chris Marrow were trapped lbw by James Woodford and Josh Lincoln respectively, but Yash Rastogi (34) and Tom Fray helped stabilise the innings.

The former became Woodford’s (3-85) second victim, but Christy Green (33) batted well to keep Cookham moving along.

He fell to Andy Lazenbury, but Fray’s excellent 120 ensured Cookham ended on 237-8, Lincoln finishing with 3-40.

Tom Potter (150) and Matt Eldridge (103no) shared an opening stand of 250 as Finchampstead 3rds (270-1 declared in 45 overs) eased past Chiswick & Whitton (189) by 81 runs in Division 3a.

Matt Harper took 6-50 in the visitors’ reply.

In Division 6b, Finchampstead 4ths slipped to a six-wicket defeat to Sonning 2nds.

Only four Finch players made double figures as they were bowled out for 155, Gary Woodford top scoring with 57 as Mohammed Atif claimed 5-31.

Dave Higginson (3-18) gave Finchampstead some early hope with three early wickets, but captain and opening batsman Dan Anderson (39no) then settled in for Sonning.

And Atif (55) completed a fine all-round display by adding 88 with Anderson for the fourth wicket, falling with the total on 145. However, Sonning knocked off the final runs without losing another wicket.

Finchampstead 5ths were beaten by 69 runs at Hayes 4ths in Division 8a.

Chris Ward (2-29), Tom Tinsley (2-31) and Liam Matthews (2-38) all picked up a brace of wickets as Finchampstead bowled the hosts out for 196.

Dave Marles (38) batted well at the top of the order in reply, but he lacked any real support other than from Michael Simmonite (24).

Raheel Siddique took 4-10 and Josh Frost 3-38 in a marathon 15-over spell to dismiss Finchampstead for 127.