NEWBURY secured a sensational three-run victory at Finchampstead in a low-scoring Thames Valley League Division 3a thriller, writes Richard Ashton.

After winning the toss Newbury elected to bat on which looked like a decent track, but they got off to a bad start losing Charlie Anstey and Amalka Naimanage to Joe Loveday and Sat Pal to Ollie Bareham to make the score 31-3.

Ed Uden joined Farrow in a 42-run partnership before the latter was trapped lbw by Bareham when on 36.

Newbury lost three more quick wickets with Surya Sastry, Sean Wilson and Kevin Mills falling to a combination of good bowling and poor shot selection, leaving Newbury 116-7.

A two-hour rain delay resumed with Uden (45) and Nick Ferguson (20no) – who struck two maximums – having only four overs left to bat, but they added vital runs to help their side to 145-9 from 44 overs. Loveday (3-30) and Sam Taylor (3-26) were the pick of the Finch bowlers.

The hosts endured a disastrous start as Newbury’s old ball paring of Mills and Anstey reduced them to 14-3, but Kwame Appiah (33) and Tom Potter (29) then steadied the ship with a 64 run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Sat Pal trapped Appiah lbw to leave Finch requiring 67 to win with six wickets in tact, and they looked certain to seal victory when stood on 132-6 with three overs remaining.

However, Mills then had danger man Taylor (34) caught at slip by Uden and with Finch’s tail exposed, Newbury wrapped up their first win of the season with two balls to spare.

Mills finished with 5-50 from 17.5 overs and Anstey 3-29 from his 11, while Ferguson followed his fine batting performance with a pair of stumpings.

Newbury host Cove 2nds this coming Saturday (1pm).

Falkland remain without a win in Division One after their game at Boyne Hill was rained off.

James Ettridge top-scored with 62 for the visitors, who were 172-6 after 42 overs in what could have been an intriguing contest but for the weather.

Falkland host another side which is yet to win this season – Yateley – on Saturday (1pm).

Thatcham Town had the better of their Division 2b encounter at home to Burnham 2nds, but were ultimately denied the chance to secure a victory by the weather.

Steven Bartholomew (3-27) bowled a superb opening spell to knock over Mohammed Asif, Imran Aziz and Eklis Miah cheaply as Burnham’s top order struggled.

Obaid Sarwar (45) and Naveed Bashir (24) rebuilt the innings but they were dismissed by John Williams and Chris Bird respectively.

The latter went on to remove Mudassar Nawaz before Waqar Ahmed and Samir Chaudhrey began a partnership which was ultimately halted by rain.

Burnham had reached 121-6 when the umpires decided to abandon the contest.

Thatcham Town are at home to Henley 2nds this Saturday (1pm).

Berkshire Academy defeated Herefordshire Academy by six wickets at Finchampstead on Sunday.

The visitors were dismissed for 128 in 42 overs after collapsing from 100-3.

Max Stevenson was the pick of the bowlers with 4-10 off six overs, closely followed by Finchampstead team-mates Andy Rishton with 2-10 off seven and Craig Hodges 2-20 off six.

The other wicket takers were Ian Slatcher (Reading) with 1-24 and Boyne Hill’s Mark Firth 1-18.

In reply, Berkshire lost Adam Dewes for three, Will Harris 17, Dan Marles seven and Billy Rogers 13 to leave the total on 71-4 before 1st XI players Rishton and Euan Woods (pictured) steered their side to victory in the 41st over.

Skipper Rishton made 64 off 85 balls with 10 boundaries, while Henley’s Woods remained unbeaten on 23 off 54 deliveries.

There will be more county cricket at Finch this Sunday (11am) when Berkshire Women play Yorkshire.