For the senior side it was the long journey to Great Brickhill – the village club just south of Milton Keynes. It sadly proved an even longer journey back with tragically only 12 overs played.

For the 50 overs each match, on winning the toss Finches elected to bat first. From the pavilion end the home off spinner bowled a full length consistently while the opening bowler was full pace from the far end. In the fourth over James Isbell was caught on the square leg boundary. Then in the ninth over skipper Chris Britz was caught at cover so 36 – 2.
But in the same over a short ball from the paceman flew sharply for five wides . Next over again from the far end one reared at Tommie Predgen then another rose again steeply off the pitch passing away on the off side. Then the first ball of the 13th over with the score 45 – 2 saw a good length ball rear alarmingly to strike Dan Marles on the face grill. Thankfully he was unhurt.

Play was immediately stopped by the umpires. After long consultation with the two teams the umpires called off the match for safety reasons. The writer of this report was informed after the match by the umpires the decision was “match abandoned – dangerous pitch”. The HCPL are investigating the position and the overall effect on Finches as the innocent away side.

The four TVCL sides saw action. In Division 2B Finches were hit for 261 – 6 by Sonning Firsts, the visitors assisted by 132 not out by Mo Ayub who had appeared for the Pakistan Test side. Strong early bowling and rather disappointing batting saw Finches dismissed for 145 to lose by 116 runs. Harry Stephens scored 68 for Finches.

The Thirds in 4A also suffered at Fleet Firsts. Fleet posted 333 – 8 in their 45 overs. Remarkably on coming to bowl near the end of the innings Ben Simmons took 5 – 13 in three overs. Finches totalled 210 with Joe Simmons 39 so lost by 123 runs.

In 7A it was a good result for the Fourths. On the Leas ground they hosted Farley Hill Seconds for the first time. Finches totalled 280 – 7 with Adam Davey 91, Kwame Appiah 64 and Yash Mahadik 49. Farley Hill were dismissed for 226 so a 54 run success. There were three wickets for Ishan Moitra and two for Chris May.

On Sunday in 9A the Fifths hosted Sandhurst Seconds – again for the first time. In a good match the visitors closed their 40 overs on 189 – 8 – Fred May with 3-22. Finches at 190 – 7 won by three wickets with an over to spare. Mike Smith 39 and Charlie Gilby 35 not out led the batters.