Datchet skipper Billy Mead on winning the toss asked Finches to bat first. In the cloudy and threatening conditions openers Greg Smith and Tommie Predgen started well against the Datchet very pacey attack. Greg then fell caught at slip off Arjun Tendulkar with a steady 27 total on the board after five overs.

But Finches were then reduced to 36 – 3 by the eighth over, losing Tommie and Ben Moffat both bowled. A recovery of 52 runs between skipper Chris Britz and James Isbell ended at 84 with Chris another player being bowled this time by seamer Sam Harris. James then fell lbw for 28 with 93 on the board in 17 overs. Then a second near 60 partnership between Josh Pistorius and Jed Crerar moved the score to 151 in 27 overs. Jed fell hooking to fine leg for his 29 then at 163, Josh was caught behind for 33. Handy strokes from Ben Salter and his cousin Lewis Sharp, saw the score to 203 when both were dismissed leaving Finches then nine down. Samm Daniel with some neat runs saw the score to 224 all out in 46 overs.
The bowling attack was opened by Lewis Sharp and Liam Bulteel. Lewis soon bowled Joe Barrett, but the second wicket was not until a 55 scoreline. Then Billy Mead was caught behind off the third ball bowled by Chris Britz when joining the pace attack. The next wicket was not until 114 runs were on the board in 20 overs. Calum Dickinson was caught off spinner Samm Daniel for a useful 43. Then more runs in a partnership brought up the 150 between opener Rehan Aktar and Steve Naylor. At 151 the fourth wicket very needed arrived with Aktar caught for 46 at long on off Liam.

This signalled four more wickets for 23 runs as Datchet then slumped to 174 – 8 with nine overs remaining. Steve Naylor fell caught at wide fine leg for 31 then Josh Pistorius secured two lbw’s and then a long on catch. Five overs remained as the hosts needed 35 at seven an over to win the match. After a chance appearing lost from a skyer to the covers a fine partnership between Sul Aktar and Sam Sajid saw just six runs needed from the last over. Datchet were home for the win with the unbroken 51 run partnership.

For Finches Josh Pistorius took 3 – 23 in his ten overs with two wickets for Chris Britz. A fine and very close match resulted including the good five wickets for 23 runs fight back by Finches after Datchet were 151 – 3.

The four TVCL sides saw the usual action. In Division 3A Finches Seconds hosted locals Hurst Firsts. They bowled out the visitors for 168. Tom Stewart with 3 – 24 led the bowlers with two apiece for James Woodford and Mark Laithwaite. Finches easily gathered the score at 171 – 3. Mike O’Donoghue with 65 not out and Ben Simmons 52 not out led the batters. So, five 50 overs wins in a row and topping the table with 100
points for the Seconds.

On the Leas ground the visitors were Wokingham Thirds against Finches Thirds in 4A. Batting first Wokingham closed on 228 – 8 with Matt Arnold taking 3 – 36 and two each for Ethan Chapman and Matt Harper. Fine batting by Javier Frost 89 not out and skipper Gareth Fearon 50 not out saw Finches ease home at 231 – 3 for the win.

Still difficult going for the Fourths in 7A. Visiting Bradfield Firsts they were all out for a modest 99. Bradfield at 104 – 4 duly won the match.

In 10C, Finches Fifths hosted Aldershot Fifths. The visitors were dismissed for 130 with Sam Fearon taking 3– 18 and Dave Marles 3 – 27. Finches won the match at 131 – 6. For the batting it was 48 for Gary Woodford and 27 not out for Rob Cooper.