Finchampstead CC 1st Xl vs Oxford CC 1st XI Match Report

Electing to bat first Oxford were off to a good start playing comfortably the pace of Darren Augustus and Rehan Akram. The first wicket fell at 56 to leg spinner Shiv Jindal who had Chris Tong Jones playing on. Soon after at 62 Harvey Eltham was caught at mid wicket off the second leg spinner Hussey Akram.

Then Oxford progressed well seeing the hundred up then only losing the next wicket at 137 and this in the 37th over. Spinner James Woodford induced catches both by Darren Augustus as both skipper Jamie Perkin and Mo Ayub fell for 42 and 43 respectively so 144 and four down.

After the promising position the loss of these two experienced batsmen saw visitors Oxford struggle to force the pace. They were six down at 173 with only 10 overs remaining. At 218 two more wickets had fallen to Ryan Quinn and off spinner Josh Lincoln. The end soon arrived as seamer Craig Hodges returned to the attack and removed the remaining batsmen.

So 220 all out in 49 overs. Three wickets for James Woodford and two apiece for Shiv Jindal and Craig Hodges and a good display in the field with the eight bowlers rotated well by skipper Dan Lincoln.

Opening with Craig Hodges and Greg Smith Finches lost Hodges at 15 after useful boundaries to set the innings off. Shiv Jindal joined Smith and although shaping well he was caught and bowled by Simon with 34 on the board in the eleventh over. With skipper Dan Lincoln joining Greg Smith the pair embarked on what proved to be a winning partnership. Opener Smith despite not finding his best touch batted well and sensibly to hold the innings in order as Dan Lincoln played a captain’s role.
The pair put on 150 in 33 overs before the fine innings of Smith ended as he was LBW Eltham for 67. So 184 – 3 and six overs remaining. Dan sent in his brother Josh Lincoln and his fluent strokes saw him 22 not out and Finches home at 221 – 3 and 3 overs to spare. The excellent innings by Dan Lincoln saw him to 91 not out and a well earned seven wicket win for Finches to complete in style a glorious weather afternoon.

By Neil Doody