Marles eyes the title after thrilling Finch victory
Finchampstead (276-7) Banbury (274-8)
DAN MARLES says the next two weeks will be crucial in determining whether Finchampstead can make a serious fight to retain their Home Counties Premier League title.
Finches, who lost their opening three matches, continued their charge up the table with a thrilling three-wicket win over Banbury to move to within 17 points of leaders Henley.
With star bowlers JJ Dewes and Jandre Coetzee both missing, Finch could not bowl out Banbury, despite the best effort of Craig Hodges (3-48), as they set a target of 275 to win.
But big knocks from Andy House (96), Marles (60) and Billy Rogers (48no) saw the hosts over the line with two overs to spare.
And Marles says if his side can pick up results in their next two games against Slough and High Wycombe, anything could be possible for the reigning champions.
“We were a lot worse off three or four weeks ago,” the Finch skipper told The Wokingham Paper.
“We’re just happy where we are now, top four.
“If we play anywhere near the cricket we can play then we can be up there challenging for the title.
“We were only about 75 to 80 per cent on Saturday, we weren’t fully there. If we can fully click we really can beat anyone on the day.
“We’ve showed that already by beating Henley and Banbury. We’ve got a couple of tough fixtures on the way, but if we can get one or two wins out of the next two and set ourselves up for the back nine, then you never know really.
“I’m not counting anything out but we’re just happy to be up there where we should be.”
Marles made three changes from the side which drew against Burnham with the unavailable Coetzee and JJ Dewes missing out as well as Gary Loveday, who dropped down to the 2s.
In came Josh Lincoln, Matt Carter and Adam Dewes for his first game of the season.
Banbury, who won the toss, started well as Craig Haupt and Jack Wilkins put on 59 for the opening wicket before Hodges removed Haupt for 31.
Wilkins followed for 43, trapped lbw by Dewes, who went on to end with figures of 2-52 from 16 overs.
Captain Lloyd Sabin proved tough to move as he top scored on 84 as Banbury batted out 64 overs with a total of 274 with two wickets in hand.
“Finch on a June or July day is a really good batting pitch,” said Marles.
“It’s always hard to bowl teams out with such a good pitch to bat on.
“Their captain held the innings together and I think if we got him early, it could’ve been a different story.
“But with the pitch being so good,
274 wasn’t actually that bad an effort. I thought it was really good from the bowlers, especially Adam Dewes and Craig Hodges.”
Finch set about their chase in determined fashion with opener Greg Smith following up his 86 the previous week with 30 before being bowled.
In came Marles to partner House and the pair, as they did two weeks ago, put on a massive stand, firing the hosts from 73-1 to 163-2 before House was caught having scored 96 off 95 deliveries.
A middle order wobble saw Dan Lincoln (3), Josh Lincoln (0) and Dewes (5) all fall cheaply with Marles (60) also dismissed, but a superb unbeaten knock of 48 from Rogers secured the win.
“Andy House was excellent,” said Marles.
“He’s really got that in the locker and he hits the ball so cleanly on his day.
“He’s had two of those days already this year where he’s hit some considerable scores and on his day he’s really, really effective.”
He added: “We had a bit of a collapse in the middle but I thought Billy was absolutely outstanding at the end.
“He plays the same role as me in holding the innings together.
“It’s either me or him that do that and the rest can bat around us, that’s what we’re trying to do this year, and he’s taken on that role really well.
“For a lad who is 19 or 20 to have that maturity on his shoulders is really impressive. He’s got a long future in the game.”
Finchampstead, who sit fourth, host seventh-placed Slough on Saturday with JJ Dewes and Coetzee both in line to return to the side but wicket-keeper Sukhi Kang remains sidelined with a knee injury.
FINCHAMPSTEAD batting: House 96, Smith 30, Marles 60, D. Lincoln 3, Rogers 48no, J. Lincoln 0, Dewes 5, Carter 11, Parson 15no, Hodges dnb, Uttley dnb.
Bowling: Carter 0-33, Parson 0-13, Marles 0-24, Hodges 3-48, Uttley 0-45, Dewes 2-52, Rogers 1-53.