Finch aim to grab chance at survival

Ben Steele • Published 18 Aug 2009 12:00 0 Comments

RUSSELL Lane believes his Finchampstead side are ready for one of the biggest games in the club's recent history this weekend.

Finch dominated their clash with Gerrards Cross on Saturday, but were forced to settle for a draw.

And, combined with Thame Town's shock win over Two West leaders Aston Rowant, it meant that Lane's men slipped into the relegation zone.

With Burnham 46 points adrift at the bottom, it now looks as if two from Finch, near neighbours Wokingham and Thame could join them in slipping out of the Home Counties Premier League.

But Lane knows that, with games at home against both their relegation rivals still to come, they still have a good chance to maintain the club's ever-present record in the League since its establishment in 2000.

He said: "Saying it is getting tight at the bottom is a bit of an understatement.

"But we have still got Thame and Wokingham to play, so it is obvious what we have to do.

"We have to beat Thame on Saturday and we have got a good track record against them, including beating them earlier in the season.

"We will have a good team out, especially with Matt Jones back in, so I would back our batters against their batters and our bowlers against their bowlers. We are quietly confident."

Finch go into the game on the back of a decent showing against title-challenging Gerrards Cross.

A stunning innings of 127 from Aaron Todd was the undoubted highlight, while Andrew House chipped in with 49 as Finch set 273 all out.

In reply, Cross could only muster 232-7 to settle for the draw as the Finch attack were unable to force the win.

And Lane was quick to praise the efforts of 18-year-old opener Todd: "He is a very talented cricketer and he went out there and played the way he can do.

"He is young but has got the mindset to go on to bigger and better things."

The Cross innings was also notable for featuring an instance of one of the more unusual modes of dismissal in cricket when top scorer Humza Taj was given out obstructing the field.

Lane explained: "He was at the non-striker's end and Alan Duncan played the ball away to square leg and called the single.

"Our keeper Andy House ran out to get it and when he got it Taj was still in the middle of the pitch. So he looked to throw it over him, but the batsman stuck his hand out and knocked it away.

"I appealed for it straight away, but then he started to claim that it was going to hit him. But it was clearly about three feet away from him, he was given out and it was absolutely the right decision.

"Of course there were a few disgruntled spectators, but it was definitely the right outcome.

"It was certainly a strange one - I have been playing league and Minor Counties cricket for a few years now and it is the first time I have seen it happen."

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