SPINNER Max Uttley looks set to miss out on Finchampstead’s home clash with Slough this weekend following the return of bowlers JJ Dewes and Jandre Coetzee.
With more players becoming available over recent weeks, captain Dan Marles was always likely to face a tough selection decision and he has opted to leave Uttley out after taking just one wicket in his last two league games.
Providing Coetzee returns in time from South Africa following the birth of his first child, Josh Lincoln will also drop out from the side which beat Banbury last week.
But it is Uttley’s absence which stands out with the youngster playing a key role in Finchampstead’s rise in the last two seasons, having played in each of the last 25 games stretching back to August 2015.
Finches continued their resurgence with a thrilling three-wicket victory over Banbury, chasing down 275 to win and they now sit fourth in Home Counties Premier League Division 1, only 17 points off leaders Henley.
And Marles admits he is not ruling out a possible title challenge again for the reigning champions.
“We were a lot worse off three or four weeks ago,” the Finch skipper told The Wokingham Paper.
“We’re just happy where we are now, top four.
“If we play anywhere near the cricket we can play then we can be up there challenging for the title.
“We were only about 75 to 80 per cent on Saturday, we weren’t fully there. If we can fully click we really can beat anyone on the day.
“We’ve showed that already by beating Henley and Banbury. We’ve got a couple of tough fixtures on the way (Slough and High Wycombe), but if we can get one or two wins out of the next two and set ourselves up for the back nine, then you never know really.
“I’m not counting anything out but we’re just happy to be up there where we should be.”
Andy House continued his fine season with a knock of 96 in the chase as he and Marles put on a partnership of 90, following on from the stand of 176 from the pair in victory over Great and Little Tew earlier this month.
A middle order wobble saw Dan Lincoln (3), Josh Lincoln (0) and Dewes (5) all fall cheaply with Marles (60) also dismissed, but a superb unbeaten knock of 48 from Rogers secured the win.
And Marles was full of praise for two batsmen in particular.
“Andy House was excellent,” said Marles.
“He’s really got that in the locker and he hits the ball so cleanly on his day.
“He’s had two of those days already this year where he’s hit some considerable scores and on his day he’s really, really effective.”
He added: “We had a bit of a collapse in the middle but I thought Billy was absolutely outstanding at the end.
“He plays the same role as me in holding the innings together.
“It’s either me or him that do that and the rest can bat around us, that’s what we’re trying to do this year, and he’s taken on that role really well.
“For a lad who is 19 or 20 to have that maturity on his shoulders is really impressive. He’s got a long future in the game.”
FINCHAMPSTEAD XI to face Slough: Marles (c), D. Lincoln (wk), House, Parson, Rogers, Smith, Carter, J. Dewes, A. Dewes, Coetzee, Hodges.
