ADAM Dewes marked his return to the Finchampstead side with a half century and two wickets on Saturday, writes Dave Wright.

But the Durham University student was not able to prevent them suffering a seven-wicket defeat at Slough, who now take over at the top of the Home Counties Premier League Division One table.

Finch were forced to make changes to their team due to unavailability, while skipper Dan Lincoln played despite nursing a hand injury which he had suffered when playing for Berkshire against Devon the previous Sunday. He did, however, drop himself down to eight in batting order.

“I ruptured the tendons in my right hand,” he revealed. “It was very sore, hence why I batted low down.”

Having won the toss, Finch batted first but soon lost openers Andrew House for 10 and Greg Smith with just six to his name.

Shiv Jindal (5) and Simon Bell (10) also didn’t survive for long and Finches found themselves 37-4 with 12 overs gone.

Then a steady stand between Dewes, back from university, and Ryan Quinn saw the side safely to the lunch interval at 89-4.

Shortly after the restart, Quinn was bowled by spinner Ali Raja for 22 and when Josh Lincoln (1) offered Raja a return catch the visitors were 114-6.

Dewes remained defiant until being bowled for 61 with the total on 128 and shortly afterwards Richard Reed (0) became Raja’s third victim.

At 135-8, a modest score was beckoning. However, Dan Lincoln braved the discomfort of his injury to push the score along with Rehan Akram offering solid support at the other end.

Lincoln commented: “I was on nought for four overs and for a time I couldn’t work out how I was going to get off the mark.

“Thankfully, a little bit of adrenaline kicked in, but it was still painful gripping the bat. Most of my runs were behind square of the wicket, using the pace of the ball and trying to play with the spin.”

Their partnership was just one run short of 100, but with one ball remaining Akram was dismissed by home skipper Bobby Sher for 46, leaving Lincoln 56 not out – a brave knock considering his injury – and the total on 235-9 from 64 overs.

Lincoln added: “As it wasn’t a wicket for pace, it was extremely disappointing to give away five wickets to Slough’s seam attack.”

Finch had only two pacemen and it was Akram who removed Slough opener Yaqoot Rafiq for nine.

Spinner Dewes was introduced to the attack and with his first delivery he bowled Conrad Louth, who was poised to play for Finchampstead until switching to Slough on the eve of the season.

It then became 59-3 when Fahim Querishi (33) was brilliantly caught by House at wide mid-on, with the ball dropping over his shoulder, to give Dewes his second wicket.

Lincoln said he was delighted to have Dewes back, adding: “He adds so much quality, versatility and experience to the side.”

However, that was to prove Finchampstead’s last success of the day. Shahid Yousaf and Danny Akhtar looked solid at the crease despite Lincoln using six bowlers, and changing them around on frequent occasions.

Yousaf went on to make 116 and Akhtar 72 in an unbroken partnership of 179 as Slough sealed a seven-wicket victory with five overs to spare.

A disappointed Lincoln concluded: “We had a strong slow-bowling unit, but overall we must have bowled at least 20 full tosses and got punished badly.”

Finch, who slip to third bottom in the table, take on Tring Park at home this Saturday (11am), the visitors third from top, two points behind Slough with just five points separating the leading five teams.

Finchampstead 2nds defeated local rivals Wokingham 2nds by seven wickets in the Thames Valley League’s Division 2b.

Sam Taylor took 5-18 as the visitors were dismissed for 239, Salman Khalid scoring 81 and Manpreet Singh 61.

In reply, Ed Oliver hit an excellent 85 not out, Tommie Predgen 45, Russell Lane 38 and skipper Gary Loveday 37 not out as Finches eased to their second victory of the season.

But it was not such a good day for Finchampstead 3rds in Division 3a at Cove 2nds.

They were dismissed for 187 with Tom Wroot making 52 and Kwame Appiah 48. Cove went on to win by six wickets with the bowlers led by Ollie Bareham 3-50.

In Division 6b, Finchampstead 4ths dismissed hosts Aldershot 3rds for 138 with Rachel Hardy taking 3-48.

They lost five wickets in replying with Gareth Biggs remaining unbeaten on 66.

Finchampstead 5ths totalled 221-5 at Newbury 3rds in Division 9a, Jamie Brown top scoring with 52.

After racing to 120 without loss Newbury faltered and finished on 201-7, leaving Finch victorious by 20 runs.