28-06-2008 - Away - TVL - Theale & Tilehurst vs Finch

Finch hang on for a draw

Match Report Finchampstead 4 V Theale and Tilehurst 2 28th June 2008

Finches hang on for the draw

Finch won the toss and invited Theale to bat first.

The old firm of Mason and Martin were back in action for Finch in this match against newcomers Theale. Mason soon struck, taking the first wicket with the score just 2, and a second wicket followed at 14. Martin bowled a tight spell without any wickets but kept the run rate under control. Theale staged a come back with a third wicket stand of 53 before Matt Bell, who was bowling with good pace and control, took his first wicket, a regulation catch to the keeper. Matt then added a second wicket to finish with figures of 10 overs 2 for 58. Bobby O came on to bowl and was rewarded with a wicket, Matt Lay taking a smart catch behind the stumps, to leave Theale at 123 for 5. Things then drifted away from Finch as an 83 run stand took the score to 203 for 6, and was only halted when David Martin took a superb one handed catch in the deep to give Jonny Gaffney his first wicket for Finch. Bobby used 7 bowlers in all and of the others Phil West bowled well. There were 2 catches each for Matt Lay and David Martin. A run-out (Fisher/Lay) accounted for the last Theale wicket to fall and their innings ended on 233 for 7.

Theale opened their attack with slow bowlers and the Finch opening pair struggled and were back in the pavilion with only 14 on the board. Jonny Gaffney started well but was deceived by a slower ball and gave an easy return catch to the bowler. Finches were now in trouble with the top 3 gone for only 30 runs. Tom Pask and Ben Fisher then brought Finch back into the game with a stand of 96, Tom the first to go for 42. James Osler joined Ben and played a couple of good strokes for 4 but was out trying to go for a 6. Ben soon followed for a well played 49 (he deserved a 50), but most pleasing for him was the manner in which he accumulated his runs, he did this by playing good cricket shots and not slogs. Finch then lost 3 quick wickets without troubling the scorers and things did not look good. Phil West and David Martin then set about saving the match for Finch with 13 overs left. Phil played some excellent shots and with David stonewalling, the draw looked on. Phil was out for a fine 23 in the 45 over, leaving the two Davids Martin and Mason to hold out for the draw, this they accomplished but not without some loud appeals to keep the heart rate up.

The damage was not too bad as Finch showed they will be hard to beat and held onto 3rd place in the table.

Statistics

Finchampstead won the toss and elected to field
Result	Draw
Score
Finchampstead CC Scored 181 for 9 in 48
Theale & Tilehurst Scored 233 for 7 in 52

Player Performance - Batsmen

Player	How out	Runs	Catch	Stump
Matt Lay	Caught	2	2	0
David Davies	Caught	4	0	0
Jonny Gaffney	Caught+Bowled	12	0	0
Tom Pask	Caught	42	0	0
Ben Fisher	Bowled	49	0	0
James Osler	Caught	9	0	0
Bob Osler	Caught	0	0	0
Matt Bell	Caught	0	0	0
David Martin	Not Out	3	2	0
Phil West	Caught	23	0	0
David Mason	Not Out	1	0	0

Player Performance - Bowlers

Player	Overs	Maidens	Runs	Wickets
Jonny Gaffney	4	0	18	1
James Osler	5	0	26	0
Bob Osler	9	3	29	1
Matt Bell	10	2	58	2
David Martin	7	1	21	1
Phil West	6	1	22	0
David Mason	11	3	47	2