A tough target

just too much

Stanmore 228-9 dec.

Finchley 180-6

Grolsch Middlesex County

League Division One

Leaders Finchley, set a stiff target of 229 off only 36 overs, by Stanmore, made a bold bid for victory, but had to settle for the run-rate points in a drawn match at Arden Field on Saturday. They're five points clear of Teddington, who suffered a shock six-wicket defeat against bottom club Wembley, and Brondesbury, who beat Brentham by 114 runs.

Put in, Stanmore got off to a steady start with a stand of 29 between Umesh Valjee and Peter Edwards, before Valjee fell lbw to Steve Blyghton.

Anthony Rule (33) joined Edwards (61) in adding before Edwards was trapped lbw by Jake Milton. Rule also fell lbw, to Daminda Wijesekera, who bowled former Finchley captain Glucka Wijesuriya, third ball, without the score moving on.

Stanmore's slump continued as skipper Alastair Fraser was bowled by Wijesekera, and Navin Samarakoon was lbw to Milton, 125-6.

Jamie Hollebone (72 not out) fought back magnificently, supported by Mark Dyson (17) in a stand of 61 and at tea Stanmore were 205-7.

Seventeen overs had been lost to rain, but Fraser decided to bat on before declaring at 228-9.

Set a huge task, Finchley got off to a speedy start with a stand of 52 off 11 overs, between Arron Laraman and Michael Morrison (25). Morrison was out, and Laraman soon followed, 60-2.

Greg Pooley and Peter Sogbodjor (13) added 41, and Finchley continued their determined quest for victory with Pooley hitting out, scoring 41 off 33 balls.

Assured of four points, Finchley put up the shutters after Keerthi Ranasinghe was out, 150-6.

Mark Wright (36 no) batted well, in an unbroken stand with Ben Scott (10 not out) and Finchley ended on 180-6.

Nick Gho (2-9, off two overs) and Edwards (2-26, off six overs) were Stanmore's most successful bowlers.

Finchley's home clash with Shenfield in the Evening Standard Cup on Sunday was soon washed out, and they'll hope for better weather on Sunday. It follows a league visit to Brentham on Saturday.

Finchley's Duncan Murray set a second team scoring record with 173 not out against Ealing II. He was only one short of the club record by Graham Norman in the 1980s.

Finchley II 269-5 dec. (S Montague 50), Ealing II 188-8 (W Presley 6-53). Southgate III 80, Finchley III 84-3.

Stanmore II 197-2 dec. (R Hesketh 62 no), Uxbridge II 113 (M Bhatt 6-22). Stanmore III 172-7dec., Ealing III 173-7 (J Chapman 97).