Finchampstead 210-9 Radlett 214 Home Counties Premier League Radlett will have hoped they turned a corner on Saturday after they received the better half of a nail biting draw away at Finchampstead.
The Cobden Hill side fought back fantastically from being dead and buried at one stage, to almost winning the game in the final over.
Kervin Marc had the chance to win the game with his last six balls but importantly for Finch, it was number six batsman Matt Jones on strike and not their number 11.
Radlett had produced another patchy batting display earlier in the day to be bowled out in the 63rd over for 214 runs. Main contributions came from skipper Nick Fielden who made 63, Graham Dill with 33 and Shane Burger with 44.
Some lusty blows from Kervin Marc near the end boosted the total and Stuart Browne continued his good recent form with the bat. Radlett's resident number 11 has yet to be dismissed this season, though when he does, he will have an average most of the batsmen would be proud of.
215 to win in 57 overs looked a chasable target for Finchamstead and initially they set about achieving it very well. Browne snared skipper Clemow fairly early but Stuart Seymour looked in reasonable touch and played some powerful shots to set the home side on their way.
Stuart Browne was a man on a mission though, and his unbroken spell of 28 overs up the hill allowed Radlett to exert the control they have been lacking thus far this season, he finished with figures of 7-93. Shane Burger also bowled heroically in a 19 over spell either side of tea.
Despite their efforts, Finchampstead had manouvered themselves into a position to win the game. They needed 20 runs from 42 balls with five wickets in hand and were certainly favourites to take the 25 points.
However, Radlett fought back well, Browne plugging away and Marc returning for a great second spell and the loss of late wickets was to prove telling for Finch. Radlett's spirit in the field is what brought them through for a favourable result that they can certainly build on.
Radlett skipper Nick Fielden said: "15 points out of a possible 25 is a good result for us and I feel we have some good performances in us over the next few weeks.
"I hope this is a platform for us to start winning games in the next few weeks."
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