Home Counties Division One
FINCHAMPSTEAD had to settle for a draw in their high scoring home fixture against Slough.
Finch opted to bat first and lost their first wicket with 17 runs on the board when Tommie Predgen fell for 13.
The next dismissal came around quickly when Ben Moffat was removed on six which saw 22-2 on the scoreboard.
Having lost their opening pair, Finch recovered to make their total look much healthier with the partnership of Chris Britz and Gregory Smith at the crease.
Britz picked up 22 runs, while.Smith lasted 99 balls and put 67 on the board.
Wicket keeper Jed Crerar managed to match Smith’s total as he also scored 67, while useful contributions from Zac Leonard (29) and Lewis Sharp (31*) ensured that the hosts moved onto 264 runs before their 64 over innings came to an end.
Looking to defend their score, Finch picked up the first wicket of the second innings when Rahim Akhtar was out LBW from the bowling of Liam Bulteel.
Bulteel claimed his second wicket with Slough on 51 when Taran Sohi was caught out by Smith for 19.
Bulteel picked up his third wicket of the match to see Slough on 61-3, but the visitors then proved to be a tough nut to crack as Wajid Shah built up an impressive total.
Slough’s number three batter collated 105 runs, while Lesbourne Edwards hit a half century.
With Finch unable to bowl Slough all out, the match ended in a draw with the away team on 262-5 from 54 overs.
The result leaves Finch in ninth position in the table on 38 points from their opening six matches, just one place off the foot of the standings.
WOKINGHAM stay in third position after they were dealt defeat for the first time this campaign at Aston Rowant.
Aston decided to bat first and built a sizeable first innings total of 306 from 61 overs before they decided to declare with three wickets remaining.
The Oaks knew they had to maintain a high run rate to try and clinch the win and started brilliantly with the opening pair of Andy Rishton and Imran Malik.
Rishton top scored with 73, while wicket keeper Sukhmeet Kang contributed with half century.
However, Wokingham fell short as they were all out on 228 which gave the hosts victory.
WARGRAVE remain at the bottom of the table after they lost for the third time in six matches.
Euan Woods took three wickets as Banbury scored 167 in the first innings.
However, Wargrave were 61 runs short of taking the win as they were removed for 106 after 33.3 overs.
