Finches suffer back-to-back losses
Henley (260-8) Finchampstead (237-5)
ANOTHER big score from Dan Lincoln could not prevent back-toback defeats for Finchampstead.
Finches have made an inconsistent start this campaign, picking up just one win so far, and they fell 23 runs short at Henley despite an unbeaten knock of 74 by skipper Lincoln.
Despite the defeat, Finch have in fact moved up a place to seventh in a tight bottom half of the Home Counties Premier 1 table.
Lincoln named an unchanged 11 from the team that lost against Horspath last time out, but did alter the batting order with Tommie Predgen promoted up to open alongside Greg Smith.
Finches won the toss and opted to field first, but the hosts started well, putting 83 on the board before the first wicket fell with James Woodford removing Matthew Rowe for 22.
But his fellow opener Michael Roberts powered onto 71 before he was caught off the bowling of Rehan Akram.
From 153-2, Henley did suffer a wobble with Woodford taking two more wickets and Josh Lincoln also claiming a couple, but they closed on 260-8 to set Finchampstead a tricky chase.
That was made even trickier by a poor start in reply with Predgen caught without scoring while Greg Smith only managed 14.
And when Shiv Jindal was caught having put just nine runs on the board, Finches looked in trouble on 46-3.
But up stepped captain Dan Lincoln to give his side a chance, embarking on a knock of 74 not out, including three sixes, supported by Simon Bell who scored 61 before also being caught off spinner Euan Brock.
That left the visitors on 138-4 off 37 overs, still a way short of the total.
Ryan Quinn quickly came and went for six before Josh Lincoln joined brother Dan at the crease, scoring 37 not out, but Finch ended on 237-5 to suffer a third defeat of the season.
Finchampstead host high flying High Wycombe on Saturday in what will be a clash against former captain Dan Marles, who made the move to Buckinghamshire over the winter having led Finch to the title in 2016.