Scorecard

Finchampstead 3 v Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday on Sat 27 Jun 2015 at 1.00
Thatcham Town Cricket Club Lost by 66 runs

Match report Another abject batting display from Thatcham saw them lose top spot in Thames Valley League 3a for the first time this season as they went down by 66 runs at Finchampstead 3's on Saturday.

Winning an important toss on a hot day with a hard dry track, Finch skipper Ian Rose had no hesitation in electing to bat first and youngsters Matthew Eldridge and Josh Lincoln were positive from the off. Lincoln was by far the dominant force and the visiting attack was put to the sword as he punished anything loose with savage force. Thatcham skipper Duncan Johnson was forced into an early bowling change, taking pace off the ball, with Chris Bird introduced in just the 8th over of the game. The effect was negligible however as Lincoln continued undeterred past his half century. Thatcham got a breakthrough in the 18th over as Lincoln smashed a hard chance back at Bird who couldn't hold on, but instead deflected the ball on to the stumps where Eldridge was out of his crease and unluckily run out for 18. Lincoln reached a superb 100 in the 25th over when he was dismissed. Duncan Johnson had introduced himself into the attack and although Lincoln smashed his first delivery for four, the Thatcham skipper had the last laugh when the very next ball was pouched at mid-wicket by Chris Bird. Lincoln had hit eighteen 4's and one 6 in his 100 and is definitely a name to watch for the future. Finch had reached the halfway point of the innings and at 138-2 were looking to post a big total. Thatcham fought back valiantly though as the experienced left arm spin trio of Johnson, Bird and John Williams slowly turned the screw. With the exception of Marcus Bazley, the rest of the Finch batting order fell away badly under the pressure exerted. Beswick (11) was caught by Simon Rider off Johnson, Sam Miller (10) was cleaned up by Williams and Johnson then accounted for Kyle McDonald (1) and Tom Wroot (9) before clean bowling Bazley (54) to give the Thatcham skipper a deserved five wicket haul. Chris Bird was back in the attack and he mopped up the tail, Sam Jenkins (0) and Matt Harper (2) were both clean bowled and with the very last ball of the 52nd over Finch skipper Ian Rose picked out Scott Gibson on the boundary to give Bird a 3rd victim. Finch were all out for 217 and the visitors had certainly given themselves a chance and got back in game.

Duncan Johnson was the pick of the attack, 14 overs 5-39 and was well supported by Chris Bird, 14 overs 3-61 and John Williams, 14 overs 1-54.

It was no surprise when Finch took the old ball and opened up with the spin of Matt Harper and Sam Taylor and with the pitch now offering a little more in terms of spin and indifferent bounce, it was going to take something special from the Thatcham batters to reach the total. It was to be an absolute disaster however as, before you could blink, 20 overs had been bowled and Thatcham were reduced to 38-5. Josh O'Flynn played round one from Taylor and was bowled for 1, Jack Young was caught behind sweeping for 12, Josh Winfield miscued one and was caught on the boundary for 9, Steve Bartholomew was caught and bowled for 0 and Simon Rider ran himself out for 18. Worse was to follow as Matt Denness fell lbw to Taylor for 1 to make it 38-6. Skipper Duncan Johnson joined Callum Johnson and it was really was a torturous afternoon with any brief hopes immediately extinguished by the fall of a wicket. The elder Johnson (6) fell bowled by Harper as he looked for slog sweep and although John Williams smashed four 4's and a six in an all too short cameo, he was stumped for 25. Callum Johnson was next to go for a patient 26 which just left the last pair of Scott Gibson and Chris Bird to restore some pride. The pair came together at 97-9 in the 37th over and proceeding to bat with great application. Any bad balls were punished as Finch changed the bowling to try and grab the last wicket. 100, 125 and then 150 were passed to give their side another 3 precious points and just as 175 looked on the cards, Gibson cut a short ball to Bazley at gully who juggled, and then held on at the 2nd attempt. Thatcham were all out for 151 in the 46th over, Gibson had made 14 and Chris Bird was left unbeaten on 29*, the top score in the innings from the dogged number 11.

Sam Taylor, 21 overs 4-61 and Matt Harper 20 overs 4-50 has both got through marathon spells for the home side and were easily the pick of the attack. Sam Jenkins took the last wicket as he returned 1-16 and hand his side a big 25 point victory.

Thatcham claimed 8 points and lost top spot to Aldershot, who had a 25 point win over Wokingham 2's to set up a top of the table clash at Brownsfield on Saturday. Thatcham will hope to reclaim top spot, but know a vastly improved performance with the bat is required.

Finchampstead 3 Batting
Player name RunsMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
4b 2lb 
for 10 wickets
6
217 (52.0 overs)		     
Matthew Eldridge Run out  18
Josh Lincoln ct  D Johnson 100
Marcus Bazley b  D Johnson 54
Billy Beswick ct  D Johnson 11
Sam Taylor b  J Williams 10
Kyle McDonald ct  D Johnson 1
Tom Wroot ct  D Johnson 9
Sam Jenkins b  C Bird 0
Matt Harper b  C Bird 2
Ian Rose ct  C Bird 5
Ollie Bareham Not Out  1

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Callum Johnson7.003900.005.57
Scott Gibson3.001800.006.00
Chris Bird14.0161320.334.36
John Williams14.0254154.003.86
Duncan Johnson14.033957.802.79

Thatcham Town Cricket Club Thatcham 1XI- Saturday Batting
Player Name RMB4s6sSRCatchesStumpingsRun outs
extras
TOTAL :
13w 1lb 
for 10 wickets
14
151		        
Simon Rider Run out  14 1
Josh O'Flynn b  S Taylor 1
Jack Young ct  S Taylor 12 1 1
Josh Winfield ct  M Harper 9 2 1
Steve Bartholomew ct  S Taylor 0
Matthew Denness lbw  S Taylor 1
Callum Johnson ct  M Harper 26 5
Duncan Johnson b  M Harper 6 1
John Williams st  M Harper 25 4 1
Scott Gibson ct  S Jenkins 14 2 1
Chris Bird Not Out  29 5 1

Finchampstead 3 Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Matt Harper20.0450412.502.50
Sam Taylor21.0661415.252.90
Matthew Eldridge2.002300.0011.50
Sam Jenkins1.4016116.009.60
Ollie Bareham1.01000.000.00

  • Umpire :
    Panel
  • Scorer :
    Ian 'Rocky' Martin