FINCHAMPSTEAD threw away a very promising position before crashing to a heavy defeat at second-in-the-table Datchet on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

They slumped from 167-3 to 225 all out and then produced a below-par bowling performance as their hosts raced to a six-wicket victory to extend their impressive unbeaten run to 10 Home Ccounties Premier League Division One games.

With Datchet missing four players, including Berkshire spinners Chris Peploe and Ollie Birts, this had the makings of a winnable game for Finch and that certainly looked a possibility whey they raced to 50 in the first 11 overs.

Greg Smith and Oli Soames took the total to 63 before the former was caught by James Morris off the bowling of Tom Lambert for 27.

Hampshire batsman Soames smacked eight boundaries as he raced to 44 off 48 balls before being trapped lbw by Lambert with the total on 78 and the same bowler accounted for Billy Rogers, lbw for two, making it 90-3.

This brought together Dan Lincoln and Adam Dewes and they lifted the total to 167 by the 38th over and Finch looked set to go on to make a competitive score. However, it didn't go to plan.

Lincoln, having hit 69 off 71 balls, hit a Max Stevenson delivery straight into the hands of Steve Naylor and Dewes (30) was run out by Jarryd Wallace when attempting a risky second run.

At 180-5, Finch still had a chance to post a decent score, however, that never happened with one of their former players, leg spinner Max Stevenson, causing much of the damage, finishing with 4-35, while Lambert claimed 3-39.

They lost four wickets for the addition of just one run, leaving them 181-8. That was raised to 225 by Zac Jones (13) and No. 10 Connor Corlet (21no), but it was a total that was never going to be enough, especially as Finch don't boast the strongest of attacks,

The hosts did wobble a little from 56-1 to 58-3, but a stand of 130 in 26 overs by Berkshire county captain Morris (54) and Joe Thomas (85no) put them on course for an unexpectedly comfortable victory, which they achieved at 226-4 in the 45th over.

Of that total, 152 came in boundaries with Thomas leading the way with 16 fours.

Corlet was the pick of the visitors' bowlers, taking 2-39 off eight overs.

To complete a disappointing weekend, Finch were also soundly beaten in their HCPL Twenty20 semi-final on Sunday, being shot out for just 61 in under 15 overs as they replied to Banbury's 185-6.

Banbury (174-2) went on to win the final by defeating Henley (160-9) by 14 runs.

This coming Saturday, sixth-in-the-table Finch host Buckingham Town, who are two places above them and unbeaten in their last six games.