Form not a worry for Finchampstead skipper
Published 15 Jun 2012 08:00
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FINCHAMPSTEAD skipper Matt Jones believes it is only a matter of time before his side end their winless start to the season.
Saturday's draw against Beaconsfield - another side yet to taste victory in Thames Valley Division One - means Finch have now gone five matches without success.
But Jones says that he is not concerned by his side's displays -which have brought them to the brink of victory on a couple of occasions - and adds they are just not getting the rub of the green right now.
"I couldn't fault the boys again on Saturday, we set a modest total and they never looked like getting near it. We're dominating games and just not getting what we deserve," he told the News.
"It just didn't quite go for us, we are playing all the cricket but not getting the results. I'm not concerned though, we've been very close to winning on a few occasions and got plenty of points, and we have games coming up that we'll be really going all out to win."
In a clash between two of three remaining winless sides in Division One, Jones won the toss and elected to bat first.
Openers Russell Lane (49) and Gary Loveday (29) took the score to 71 before the latter was caught edging a hook.
Lane was caught soon afterwards short of his half century but steady batting from Jones (45) and Dan Lincoln (61) saw the score steadily mount.
Finch were 217-6 when Lincoln was dismissed but late strokes from Lance Stewart (17*) saw them close on 236-7.
With 48 overs available, Finch opened with spinner JJ Dewes, but openers Jeremy Suter and Adam Francis steadily saw 50 on the board.
The introduction of Will Allum and Simon Hards saw three wickets fall and Beaconsfield then fell to 114-5 with 15 overs remaining.
Dewes and fellow spinner Chris Ellison then dismissed Jason Harrison and Chris Thomas to plunge the visitors further into trouble.
But despite some close moments, Beaconsfield held on for the draw at
162-8, with Dewes, Allum, Hards and Ellison all taking two wickets apiece.
Finch skipper Jones said afterwards that he was pleased with 17-year-old Lincoln's impressive form this season but that they would both prefer team successes to individual triumphs.
"Dan has been doing well and putting in some good performances but I know that like me he'd much prefer the team to win than to score a lot personally. I wouldn't mind a few 30s and two-fors if we win a game," he commented.
Finch face an away trip this Saturday when they travel to Henley 2nds (1pm).
Elsewhere, Finchampstead 2nds suffered a nine-wicket defeat to high-flying Datchet in Division 2b after been dismissed for just 108.
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