With Finch’s midtable finish confirmed, the pressure was on the visitors who handled it with ease to run out seven-wicket winners and confirm their promotion.

David Hartley won the toss for Reading and put Finch in to bat on a sunny summer’s day in Finchampstead.

And it looked like an inspired decision as Sukhi Kang (2-23) struck twice in quick succession to remove Finch openers Adam Dewes (0) and Matthew Jones (3).

Jack Beaven (3-20) then took the first of his wickets to remove Harry Stephens (8) and Reading seemed well on course for promotion with the hosts on 17-3.

The arrival of Dan Marles (40) to the crease did calm things down as he built a 50-run partnership with William Rogers (24), but Hartley trapped the latter LBW to spark another mini-collapse as two further wickets fell to take Finch from 67-3 to 71-6.

Marles was still at the crease and continued his stubborn resistance and was ably supported by Tipene Friday (17*) to help the hosts past 100 but Hartley finally struck to remove Marles and pave the way for Reading to wrap up the Finch batting attack.

The tail end was removed with minimal fuss to leave Hartley’s men needing 121 for promotion.

Praful Waghela (53) followed up his magnificent 169* the previous week to get Reading off to the perfect start, and they never looked back as they cruised to their target with few problems along the way.

A couple of wickets fell in quick succession when Stephens (1-39) had Waghela caught, and Friday (1-45) dismissed Amardeep Dosanjh for just one run, but Martin Andersson (23*) and Curran Gaur (27*) helped push the visitors to their total inside 17 overs, with seven wickets remaining.

Finch sit fifth in the table, and wrap up their Home Counties Division Two campaign with a tough trip to Amersham on Saturday (12.30pm), where victory could see them grab fourth spot off their hosts.