Finchampstead Second XI continued their good start to the season with a home victory of Marlow in Division 2a of the TVL.

 

Winning the toss, in bright sunshine, with the forecast good and the Finch deck looking better the home Captain elected to bat first.

 

Returning from a 2 week sabbatical and a stint in the 1st team Mark Shepherd ventured out to bat with Gareth Fry.

 

Going wasn't easy early on with Ex-Hampshire Jamie Bovill running in down the hill. The goings on up the hill were a little more eventful, with both openers finding it hard to focus as no two balls pitched on the same side of the track let alone the same place!

 

Norm fell to a rising delivery from Denton, leaving with hands well above shoulder height Norm was struck on the wrist, only to see the new narry cannon onto the timbers. This stroke of bad luck lead to GE Loveday arriving at the crease, possibly for the 1st time this season, not struggling with after effects from the night before, this obviously lead to worry from his colleagues and team mates, that without bloodshot eyes and the aroma of apples the Finchampstead stalwart wouldn't be able to live up to his own high standards, fear not, he had obviously drunk more than he remembered and settled into the run scoring groove that has seen him hit two unbeaten tons already this year.

 

Before too long Shepherd and Loveday were well into their stride and got the score up to 100 without any dramas. Shepherd then departed to Lee Atkinson for a well crafted 38, bringing new Captain Tom Ansell to the crease. TA and Loveday quickly got into their stride and the score ticked along to 151 before Loveday was bowled, again left arm spinner Atkinson taking the wicket for a fine 71.

 

Ansell continued to kick on, experimenting with several variations of the sweep shot, much to the dismay of Norm, who has informed him several times not to try it up the hill?! However most of them seemed to come off!

 

Andy House in typical House fashion came in and looked $1 million hitting Atkinson for 14 in one over before the Marlow overseas player, Kiwi Nathan McNally, had him caught behind without adding to his score. This lead to a mini collapse, Finchampstead losing Fairclough for 10 and Aston for 1, both to McNally.

 

Ansell was the next to go, looking to press onto 250 in the last few overs, aiming a shot towards the tennis courts, however only managing to top edge the shot over Atkinson's head who took a good catch running backwards, Ansell departing for 67 with the score on 228.

 

Harper, Potter and Augustus all looked to edge the score to the 250 target, ending up on 237 off the 52 overs, Harper on 18 not out. Probably 20 short of what would have been a good score! (I mean the team, not Poon!)

 

After a good feed and a cup of tea, the Finches went out to field, opening up with the old ball and the all spin pairing of Potter and Poon. JRP always tidy, immediately piled on the pressure bowling a tight first over. To allow Tom Potter, to pick up a wicket off the back of that as Marlow's opener Moss, swung wildly at a Potter tweaker! (we have all been there!)

 

Harper sneaked one through the gate to dismiss Burnett and Marlow were in trouble at 5-2.

 

Kiwi McNally joined Aslam at the crease and put up a bit more resistance, before Aslam was expertly caught at Silly Mid-On by a leaping Norm to give Jeff Poon his second wicket of the day with the score on 43.

 

Harper kept chipping away, and with the addition of only 36 more runs McNally was gone, playing for turn, he chipped Poon to Potter who held onto it and kissed Loveday in celebration. 77-4.

 

Number 5, left handed Hogg, struggled with the introduction of the new ball, Dylan Augustus at one point having him dropped at gully, but then having him swing at almost every other ball he faced without having much success. Dylan got his man, Justin Clarke taking a good one handed catch at mid off to send him on his way 103-5. Ex-Marlow Skipper Paskins was the next man to the crease and an obvious danger after his 100 the week before.

 

Poon decided to give someone else a go and Justin Clarke and Nick Fairclough both had a go up the hill, while Loveday bowled down, all bowled well but on a flat deck with a quick outfield seam bowling may just have been the one to go. Poon joined Loveday and these two looked like taking regular wickets, Paskins dropped twice, once at Square leg and once at Mid off, at this stage, both sides could win the game.

 

Loveday snared Simon Carter, down the leg side at a point where he could have won it for Marlow  and Poon was now into the wickets again as he was knocking down Paskins partners with 11 balls to go, Poon did it, hitting Denton bang in front to get him LBW. Poon picking up 6 and one a piece for Potter, Loveday, Augustus and a run out. Paskins remained unbeaten on 41.

 

The 2s sneak up to 3rd in the league and travel to Slough next week.

 

I better get back to work!

 

Until next week... TA