FINCHAMPSTEAD CC were beaten by seven wickets in their Home Counties Premier League Division One encounter on Saturday, although at times they did cause a few problems for an undefeated Henley side consisting entirely of current or former minor counties players, writes Dave Wright.

Having been put into bat in conditions which were probably more suited to the bowlers, Finch made a cautious start with only 14 runs coming in the opening 10 overs for the loss of Tommie Pridgen for three.

However, the next three overs brought 31 runs, with Josh Lincoln hammering 18 runs off four successive deliveries from Tom Nugent.

But after scoring 34 from 41 deliveries, the youngster lofted an Ali Raja delivery into the hands of Nugent at long on, making it 46-2. One run later, it was three down with Toby Albert trapped lbw by Raja.

Billy Rogers joined skipper Dan Lincoln and proceeded to produce by far his best performance of the season so far, scoring 72 off 97 deliveries and sharing a stand of 120.

Faced by some tidy bowling and good fielding, Finch needed to up the run rate and Ryan Bone, making his league debut, struck two sixes, in a rapid innings of 16 before being dismissed.

Lincoln, showing more restraint than usual, played a solid anchor role and stayed at the crease until the end of the innings, with Finch finishing their 50 overs on 213-5.

That was never going to be enough against a strong batting side like Henley, but the home bowlers made them work hard, especially in the opening stages of their innings.

Zac Jones, facing his old club, bowled Matt Rowe for eight and Darron Augustus had Tom Scriven caught behind by Simon Bell for 10, making it 39-2.

Skipper Michael Roberts and Richard Morris, put on 84 for the third wicket before the latter was superbly caught by Josh Lincoln off his own bowling for 41.

However, that was the last success for Finch, as Roberts and Euan Woods steered their side to victory, finishing on 216-3 from 46 overs. Roberts remained unbeaten on 89 and Woods 43.

This coming Saturday Finch visit Aston Rowant in the first of the timed games.