FINCHAMPSTEAD sit fourth in Division 1 of the Home Counties Premier Cricket League after ruining Henley’s perfect start to the season.
Thanks to some steady stroke play and another impressive haul of wickets from Jandre Coetzee, the visitors notched up a third win on the spin courtesy of a comprehensive margin of 141 runs.
South African star Coetzee, who took 7-16 during the success against Great and Little Tew last weekend and picked up four dismissals in his first full game for the club the weekend before, ended the innings of five batsmen on this occasion, which came at the cost of just 25 runs.
Through his work with the ball, and that of Matt Carter (2-39) and Max Uttley, who also struck twice but gave away just seven runs Henley, who went into the contest having won all five games to date in the league, were shot out for just 112 in the 41st over.
This was in reply to the competitive 253-6 set earlier in the day by Finchampstead, who were asked to bat upon losing the toss.
They would get off to a shaky start, losing openers Adam Dewes (20) and the returning Matt Jones for just 10, but those following the pair would hoist the away side to what proved to be a match-winning total in the first timed contest of the campaign.
Dan Lincoln and Billy Rodgers got the ball rolling with hits of 30 and 37 respectively, with captain Dan Marles (31) and Andy Rishton, who would lead the scoring with 38, keeping the momentum going.
Suki Kang, meanwhile, with a 61-ball 35no and Carter, who cracked three maximums during an unbeaten stand of 28, also got in on the act as Finchampstead took the game to their hosts.
The pick of the Henley attack was Gurveer Singh, who claimed three wickets, yet was the costliest bowler having conceded 55 runs.
The South Oxfordshire would need some similar stands if they were to better this total and claim a sixth win on the spin.
Losing the top three batsmen, however, for a combined 40 runs was to set the tone for a laborious and ultimately unsuccessful chase, with Coetzee again the star of the show.
Of his two wickets on the afternoon, there was also some additional glee for Morris, too, who saw off Berkshire team-mate Richard Morris for a golden duck, while in another county battle, Max Stevenson clean bowled Stewart Davison (4).
Wokingham Cricket Club
STUART PARSONS was again among the runs, but Wokingham’s winless streak in Division 1 of the Thames Valley Cricket League stretched to a third game.
The Oaks did manage to arrest a run of successive defeats, yet were well behind the rate when replying to the 240-7 made by opponents and hosts Cove earlier in the day.
Parsons , who hit 84 during the reverse against Stoke Green last time out, this time plundered 69 as he attempted to ensure the chase was a successful one.
Support would come via Michael Bates, who fell a run shy of a half century, but the failure to make any further inroads meant Wokingham would have to settle for eight points come the end of play.
This is after closing on 212-7.
Because of results elsewhere, Stuart Hayter’s side slip three places to sixth in the standings.
