DAN MARLES admits it was “gutting” for rain to ruin Finchampstead’s chances of moving top of the Home Counties Premier League.
But the skipper is keen to focus on the positives.
After losing each of their first three matches, champions Finchampstead are currently on a five-match unbeaten run after Saturday’s draw with Slough.
Chasing 273 to win, Finches sat on 164-3 before the heavens opened, well-placed needing 109 off 114 balls for the victory which would have seen them move top of the table.
And Marles could not hide his frustration.
“It was such a shame,” the captain told The Wokingham Paper.
“We would’ve gone top with a win so it was really, really gutting for us to take after playing some top cricket and putting ourselves into a winning position, just for the rain to come and ruin it which is really upsetting.
“With the long batting line-up we have, we really would’ve backed ourselves nine out of 10 times to win that game.”
Slough won the toss and opted to bat first at the Memorial Ground, just as Banbury did the week before.
And Finches produced a very similar bowling display to when they restricted Banbury to 274-8 as Slough closed on 272-7.
Jandre Coetzee, one of two changes to the side after returning from the birth of his first child in South Africa, got off to the perfect start with the early wicket of opener Fahim Qureshi for just one run.
Matt Carter dismissed Shazad Rana (11) not long after before Slough started to shape their innings with Zohaib Ahmed reaching 99.
However, Marles himself took on the bowling responsibilities, ending with his side’s best figures of 4-51 off an uncharacteristically lengthy spell of 12 overs to disrupt the visitors.
“I think if I wasn’t captain, I’d probably bowl more,” said Marles.
“We had seven or eight bowlers on Saturday and we could rotate and I thought I’d give myself a go towards the end and it came out really well.
“I was happy to get the four wickets and as a side, we restricted them really well to 270 and the game plan was all set up to go and win the game.
“We’ve been the best side on the pitch two weeks in a row and we’re really happy going into the last 10 games.”
While eight men did get a bowl for Marles’ men on Saturday, Max Uttley was not one of those after the young spinner was dropped down to the 2s.
The news raised some eyebrows given he had played such a key role over the last two years and made 25 consecutive appearances for the first team since August 2015.
But Marles is confident Uttley can make the step up again this season.
“It’s a tough call, it always is,” said the skipper.
“Max is a really, really good bowler but it’s just one of those things. We’ve got such a good squad that people will miss out.
“Billy (Rogers) missed out last year, he was in the 2s for a couple of weeks and he’s one of the best players this year. It’s just the way it works.
“The lads will be upset when they miss out and I’m happy with that because I want them to play for me. He’ll come back stronger.
“I’m sure he’ll be in the side at some point this year, whether that is next week or in four or five weeks.”
He added: “You have to treat it like professional sport and think who has done well in the last few weeks, who hasn’t done so well and who is available.
“Like I said to Max, he’ll do well in the 2s.
“We’re in a good position that we can do that after the first four or five games where we didn’t have enough numbers to fill the side, now it’s a completely different problem where I’m actually having to pick people on performances.
“That’s a much better position for the club to be in.”
Greg Smith led the way with the bat before rain washed out the contest.
Andy House (18), Marles (39) and Billy Rogers (3) fell by the wayside but opener Smith, who hit his best score for the club of 86 two weeks ago, was on 71 not out.
He was joined at the crease by big hitting wicket-keeper Dan Lincoln (26no) after 37 overs.
But the weather saw the game end as a draw, leaving Finch fifth with just 21 points separating the top six.
And it is a tough trip for Marles’ men this week when the travel to face perennial title challengers High Wycombe.
“I think we’ve done really, really well to get ourselves back into this position,” said Marles.
“We were so upset about the way we started but it’s crazy how we could’ve actually been top without rain on Saturday after playing some pretty average cricket at the start.
“It just shows that we can be a really top side in this league.
“This weekend is what you play cricket for, to go to places like High Wycombe and test your skills and see where we are as a side.
“We’re really looking forward to it.”
Finchampstead have named an unchanged 11 for the trip – Marles (c), Lincoln (wk), Hodges, House, J. Dewes, A. Dewes, Smith, Coetzee, Carter, Parson, Rogers.
