Winning the toss Finches batted first in now sunny conditions after earlier cloud had cleared. Openers James Isbell and Tommie Predgen revelling in the good conditions hammered 75 in the first 10 overs. Then Tommie was bowled for 38. Then in the 19th over James fell caught for 43 so Finches then were 114 – 2.

Skipper Chris Britz brought up his 50 by the 28th over then with Dan Marles the pair saw the score to move to 200 in the 38th over. With 8 overs remaining Dan fell LBW for a fine 55 with 236 on the board. By 254 three more wickets fell so at 254 – 6 Finches needed to press on with only 4 overs remaining.

With Chris Britz having reached his century with Jed Crerar the pair then moved the score on before Jed fell to a good leg side catch by the ‘keeper at 289. Then at 297 the magnificent innings by Chris ended on 130. A four off the last ball saw Finches to a score of 303 – 8.

Downs were soon in trouble the first wicket falling at 7. Then they were 51 - 3 by the 12th over. Worse followed as Tom Cosford was caught in the deep at 67 then the fifth wicket fell at 88 when Chris Britz secured an LBW with his third ball. But Downs kept the score moving by a good innings from James Sandbach.

When Sandbach was eventually LBW to Lewis Sharp for 78 it was 173 – 7 with still 18 overs remaining. After the 8th wicket fell at 174 some late strokes saw the score to 221 before Eddie Campion dismissed the last two players. So an 82 run well merited win. Lewis Sharp took 3 – 38 and there were two wickets apiece for Liam Bulteel and Eddie Campion.

All four TVCL sides saw their usual action. In Division 2B the Seconds visited Kidmore End Firsts. Batting first Finches totalled 268 – 8 with Harry Stephens 77 and skipper Zac Leonard 62. Hosts Kidmore were 195 – 9 at the close so a good 73 run win. Spinner James Woodford returned 5 – 46 and Paul Stephens 3 – 20.

Division 4A and the Thirds won easily over Shinfield Firsts played on the Leas. The visitors were bowled out for 227 with James Eaglesham taking 4 – 48. The score was passed by losing only one wicket so winning at 228 – 1. Joe Simmons 78, Henry Crowhurst 75 not out and Steve Brogan 50 not out led the way.

The Fourths at Silchester Firsts in 7A were all out for 138 with Ed Oliver hitting 32. Silchester won narrowly at 139 – 7 with 3 wickets for Liam Amy.
Difficult for the Fifths at Newbury Thirds. The hosts hit 226 – 9 with Charlie Gilby taking 4 – 30. But Finches being bowled out for 132 lost the match by 94 runs.