DAN Marles emerged from one of the lowest points of his career as Finchampstead skipper by enjoying an outstanding weekend – scoring centuries on successive days along with a five-wicket haul, writes Dave Wright.

He was back in action following a three-match ban imposed by the Home Counties Premier League for failing to control his players in the game at Tring Park.

Marles hammered 107 in Finch’s 188-run win over Great & Little Tew on Saturday and then on Sunday hit 101 before taking five wickets in his side’s three-wicket defeat by Sunbury in the national clubs championship.

He was obviously disappointed by that result, but still admitted it was “good to be back”.

And he wasn’t the only centurion at Finchampstead Park on Saturday, with Andy House making 118. Opener House, having lost Greg Smith at six, and Marles put on 176 for the second wicket.

House’s dismissal was quickly followed by the departure of Dan Lincoln for two, leaving Finch 184-3, but Myles continued in good form and he and Billy Rogers added 83 before Marles fell for 107.

With Josh Lincoln contributing nine and Jandre Coetzee 14 not out, Rogers was left unbeaten on 47 when the innings closed at a sound 301-5 after 50 overs.

And it was a total that Great & Little Tew never looked getting even close to, after they had lost their first four wickets for just 31, with dismissals going to seamer Anthony Parson, two of them clean bowled.

A partial recovery saw the visitors reach 61, but spinner JJ Dewes was introduced to the attack and he bowled Henry Woodward and Robbie Catling, leaving the visitors 65-6.

Spinner Max Uttley then joined the action, taking three wickets, and with Dewes claiming his third victim, Great & Little Tew were dismissed for 113.

Parson finished with 4-14 off eight overs, Dewes 3-48, also off eight, and Uttley 3-8 off 3.2 overs.

Following two successive wins, Finch move up to seventh in the table, only 12 points adrift of surprise leaders Oxford.

This coming weekend, Marles takes his side to second-placed Burnham.

Finch were forced to field a depleted side in the third round of the national Royal London Cup on Sunday, losing by three wickets to Sunbury.

They made 217 following Marles’ 101, but the visitors replied with 221-7, sealing the victory with two overs remaining. Marles returned figures of 5-29.

In the Thames Valley League, Finchampstead 2nds were well beaten by Boyne Hill in Division One, being shot out for 191 as they replied to the home side’s 384-6.

Finchampstead 3rds drew with Fleet in Division 3a.

They bowled out their visitors for 181 with Michael O’Donaghue taking 7–66, but were always behind the clock on run rate against steady bowling and finished on 137-7.

Finchampstead 4ths remained top of Division 6b with an easy victory at Royal Ascot 3rds.

Finch dismissed the hosts for 71 with Steve West taking 5–33 and reached their target for the loss of just one wicket, Richard Reed staying unbeaten on 38.

In Division 8a, Finchampstead 5ths made 251-8 (Doug Scholes 89, Simon Eldridge 77) to edge a last-over win over Royal Ascot 4ths, who had earlier posted 250 with Cameron Ellis taking 4–48 and Callum Longstaff 3–49.

This Saturday, Finch 2nds and 3rds hosts Cookham Dean and Chiswick & Whitton respectively, while the 4ths visit Sonning 2nds and the 5ths go to Hayes 4ths.