LEADERS Finchampstead CC could be without skipper Dan Marles for the run-in of the Home Counties Premier League Division One title race, writes Dave Wright.

He tore ligaments in his shoulder ​​just before the end of Berkshire seconds team’s win over Wiltshire seconds at Swindon last Wednesday.

“I did it diving in the field,” said Marles​, who had earlier scored a century.​ He was planning to see a specialist this week, but admitted: “It doesn’t ​ look too good . At this moment I wouldn’t rule myself out of playing in the last game, but it seems unlikely.”

Marles was a spectator last Saturday when the flying Finches hammered title rivals Henley by seven wickets after bowling them out for just 129.

That has put them 25 points ahead of second-placed Banbury with three matches left – two of which are against the bottom two clubs, Reading and win​​less Harefield, with Slough sandwiched between them.

“It does look as though we are on the verge of achieving something really good,” said Marles.

“We just need to keep on playing like we have being doing. We are playing some good cricket, we are playing with confidence and we feel we can beat anyone.

“It looks as though we need to win just two of our remaining three games.”

Finchampstead have got into a habit of bowling out their opponents cheaply, with Jandre Coetzee and Matt Carter their chief wicket takers.

South African Coetzee captured three Henley wickets for 33 runs and that took his season’s tally to 49 at an average of 6.90, while player-coach Carter finished with 2-29, giving him a total of 28 wickets (average 15.14).

“JC is a top, top cricketer, while Matt has been awesome. They have been a big part of our success,” said Marles. “But we have got some other good bowlers to support them.”

He continued: “At the start of the season we didn’t expect to be where we are in the league. After being promoted we thought it would be a matter of consolidating in this division, but we have players throughout the side who can win games for you, and we’re really happy where we are going into the last three weeks of the season.”

Such is the strength of the Finchampstead squad, that in recent weeks they could even afford to leave out Berkshire players Billy Rogers and Andy Rishton.

Both found themselves playing for the second team in the Thames Valley League Division 2a. They scored centuries to earn an immediate recall to the first 11 and Rishton followed up by scoring 76 not out off 70 balls against Henley.

“We have got a lot of good batsmen in the club and some deserve a chance if others are not performing, then we can change things around. It shows the strength in depth we have here.

“Dropping down to the twos gives players the chance to get some runs and regain their confidence. That happened to Andy, and he came back really well. He showed that on Saturday with a really good knock.”

Having brought in several players at the start of the season – Coetzee and Rishton among them – several of last season’s first teamers now find themselves in the second team and, as a result, they have all but sewn up the Division 2a title.

There has also been a very successful knock-on effect to the club’s other three sides. The thirds are set to finish third in Division 3a, while the fourths have clinched the Division 7a title and their Division 9a team will finish first or second.

Not for the first time in recent weeks, all five of the clubs teams won their matches last weekend.

Marles continued: “Bringing in those new lads this year has strengthened the whole club all the way down and we are having a top season. The club is buzzing right now.”

Finchampstead are hoping Coetzee will return next year, with Marles revealing: “Obviously, we would love to have him back. He has a few things to sort out over the next three or four weeks, but hopefully he will agree to come back here.”

  • FINCHAMPSTEAD CC made it a clean sweep of victories last weekend, with all four Thames Valley League sides following the first-team’s Home Counties League success.

Leaders Finch 2nds faced a tough trip to rivals Eversley in Division 2a.

Expert bowling from Russell Lane (4-27) and James Woodford (3-59) restricted the Boars to 174-9 from their 52 overs.

Finch were cruising home on 97-2 thanks to a fine 51 from opener Andrew House.

But they then lost five quick wickets to slump to 109-7.

However, some mature batting from Max Stevenson with 37 not out and Matt Bell with an unbeaten 27 guided the visitors to a three-wicket victory in 46 overs on 177-7.

The win puts Finch a whopping 49 points clear at the top of the table. They host Marlow Park this Saturday.

In Division 3a, Finch 3rds romped to a seven-wicket home win against Eversley 2nds.

Eversley’s batting let them down as they were shot out for a mere 66, with Sam Taylor taking 3-3 and Nick West 3-14.

Josh Lincoln then hit 46 runs as Finch eased home on 67-3 in only 8.2 overs.

Finch 4ths continued the club’s hot steak with a 113-run victory at North Maidenhead to secure promotion from Division 7a.

Finch posted 244-6 declared from 43 overs thanks to a magnificent 105 from Tom Pregden and a superb 85 from Ashley Hull. Taz Choudary took 4-30 for the hosts.

North Maids were always behind the run-rate and were bowled out for 121 in reply, with Steve West (5-42) and Joe Loveday (3-40) the destroyers-in-chief.

Finch 5th, who have already been promoted, kept their title hopes alive in Division 9a with a five-wicket win at Cove 5ths.

Richard Reed (4-37) and Mike Simmonite (3-25) helped dismiss Cove for 146 before Reed smacked 58 to see Finch home on 147-5.