FINCHAMPSTEAD skipper Chris Ellison paid tribute to the Eversley groundstaff after they ensured the two sides could complete their game on Saturday.

Wet weather across the region forced the majority of matches in Thames Valley Division One to be cancelled.

But despite having to go off for a few rain breaks, Eversley and Finch completed their game, with the visitors winning by five wickets to move to within a point of leaders Amersham.

"All credit must go to Eversley's groundstaff and their captain Phil Wise for getting the game on and making sure it reached a conclusion," Ellison told the News.

"It was in both side's interest to do so and we had the covers on and off to make sure the ground was playable, we both wanted to get the game on. The rain breaks didn't particularly help Eversley as they had to come off and then back on for six overs, but they scored a lot in that time to get to a competitive total."

After choosing to bat first, Eversley started brightly as Jon Chandler (75) and Wise put on 70 before Anthony Parson trapped the skipper lbw.

The persevering Sam Taylor then dismissed Justin Parvess and Alex Davidson to check Eversley's progress.

It was further disrupted by rain, which forced the players off and then on before a break of an hour with 119 on the board.

The volunteers at the ground helped ensure the pitch was playable with a reduced 44 overs to Eversley and 40 to Finchampstead.

The home side made the most of the remaining 33 balls by smacking 68 runs, with Cephas Zhuwao finishing on 35 not out.

Finch's pursuit of 187-4 soon ran into trouble as Russell Lane was bowled and Max Stevenson caught both off the bowling of Scott Dyer.

A solid stand of 60 between Rob O'Donnell (78) and skipper Chris Ellison pushed Finch towards 100 before the skipper became Dyer's third victim.

O'Donnell was then trapped lbw by Zhuwao to leave the game in the balance.

Gary Loveday (44*) and Tom Burrows steadied the innings until Burrows became the fourth wicket for Dyer.

With the overs slipping away, big hitting from Loveday and Usman Arif saw Finch home with eight balls to spare.

Finch finish their season at home to High Wycombe 2nds this Saturday (12.30pm) before going to Amersham in a mouthwatering final day clash.

"We are still taking it one game at a time, as we have been all season," insisted Ellison. "We can't look further ahead than this weekend, High Wycombe have been in good form, have won three games in a row and will be full of confidence."

Eversley, meanwhile, could climb out of the relegation zone if they beat win at fellow strugglers Datchet on Saturday (12.30pm).