Opening with Adam Dewes and Greg Smith it was heartening to see 50 on the board in the first 15 overs. But at 55 Greg was run out then at 84 Andrew House was bowled. At the lunch interval it was 109 – 2 with Adam 49 not out he having been joined by his skipper Dan Lincoln.

Then a fine partnership between them yielded 106 runs in 25 overs until Adam Dewes played on to Andy Harris for his fine 84. Three runs later and Simon Bell was back in the clubhouse but with Ryan Quinn joining Dan the runs continued for Finches. At 240 and with 9 overs remaining Dan Lincoln was dismissed LBW for his excellent 85. The strokes continued for Ryan and Josh Lincoln to see the innings close on 292 – 6 and Ryan Quinn 44 not out.

A good start for Tring openers Andy Dixon and Andy Woodland. But at 89 they lost Dixon for 42 caught by Greg Smith. At 101 Greg caught Colin Mac Dowell both catches off the spinners. Tring with Woodland and Michael Payne easily advanced to 174 in 40 overs.

Then at 174 they lost three wickets. Firstly Andy Woodland’s fine 76 ended caught by Greg Smith for his third in a row. Then Michael Payne was caught at long on followed by a direct throw run out by Dan Lincoln to leave Tring 174 for 5. The triple setback held no fears for the visitors as through Shelvin Gumbs and David Brent comfortably put on 97 in 12 overs to see a 271 scoreline.

At 271 David Brent was caught off Adam Dewes who then four runs later bowled Andy Harris. So seven down and five to win from the last over. First ball and yet another run out so it was left to Shelvin Gumbs to hit the winning runs and his own 66 not out and success for Tring with three balls remaining.

Adam Dewes returned 4 – 108 but the win was there for Tring Park in a fine 585 run match. Finches take a valuable 12 points from the match.

All four TVCL sides saw action.

In division 2B at Beaconsfield Firsts the hosts closed on 226 - 9 with Sam Taylor taking 5 – 54. Finches found the conditions difficult and were dismissed for 126 to lose heavily.

The Thirds in division 3A visited Fleet Firsts. Finches closed on 210 – 8 the score helped by 104 from Michael O’Donoghue and 38 from Ian Rose. Fleet won at 211 – 5 so a five wicket success.

On the leas the visitors to Finchampstead Fourths were newcomers Taplow Seconds this in division 6B. Finches totalled 262 – 9 with Ben Simmons 87 and Kartic Kanthi 53. Taplow aided by some dropped catches eased home at 264 – 7 so a three wicket win.

Drama indeed for the Fifths hosting Maidenhead & Bray Fourths in division 9A. The visitors totalled 289 – 8 in their allotted overs with a good return of 5 – 43 for Ollie Armstrong-Wood. But remarkably an unbroken partnership saw Finches to 291 – 0 and a ten wicket success. The centurions were Jamie Brown 172 not out and Simon Eldridge 104 not out.

REPORT BY NEIL DOODY 24 JUNE 2018