04-07-2011 - Home - BYCL - Finch vs Theale & Tilehurst

Eagles win provides glimmer of hope for quarter-finals

In a must-win match the Eagles returned to winning ways with a comfortable 29 run victory.  The visitors, Theale & Tilehurst, won the toss and asked Finch to bat.  Despite the loss of a very early wicket on the third ball of the match, the Eagles did not lose another until the score reached 88 in the 17th over.  Along the way both Adam Telford and Mac Thomalla retired – with Adam scoring 32 from 30 balls (including three 4s and one 6) and Mac needing just 17 balls for his own 32 (including six 4s).  The score was pushed along to 113 for the loss of just one more wicket, with Adam Clayton enjoying 15 runs from 10 balls (including two 4s).
 
Defending 113 would require a concerted and professional fielding performance – and that’s just what the Eagles produced.  Every bowler did their job either through accurate bowling and keeping the run rate below what was required by the opposition, or taking wickets at important times.  Noah Smith (3 overs, 15 runs, 2 wickets) and Nick West (4 overs, 18 runs, 2 wickets) kicked matters off by claiming two wickets each in their first three overs – with Nick claiming two wickets in two balls.  Sam Lawton-Davies and Sam Jenkins then kept the Theale & Tilehurst batsman under pressure with some pinpoint bowling, which allowed only 10 runs to be added to the score off their four overs.  This was then followed up by Francois Putzeys, Brandon Mahadeo (2.4 overs, 12 runs, one wicket and one run out) and Thomas Tinsley (one run out) using just seven overs to bowl the visitors out for 84 after 17.4 overs.  Francois’s figures were of particular note: 3 overs for just 7 runs and 3 wickets, including a double wicket maiden.  Despite the opposition having one very impressive batsman who retired and then returned (finishing on 46 NO), energetic fielding including a cool-headed catch and a stumping both from wicket keeper Alex Clayton, this was a comfortable win for the Eagles and sets them up for their final divisional match and a glimmer of hope of making the third place play-off.

Statistics

Finchampstead won the toss and elected to bat
Result	Win
Score
Finchampstead CC Scored 113 for 3 in 20
Theale & Tilehurst Scored 84 for 10 in 17.4