Finchley 200 Wembley 85

Grolsch Middlesex County League

Finchley went top of the league when they outplayed Wembley at Vale Farm on Saturday.

Set a target of 201, Wembley were in dire straits at 13-5, with Steve Blyghton and Roger Ford doing the damage.

Blyghton (3-33, off 18 overs), whose self-confidence has been boosted considerably by his early season successes, struck a telling early blow when he had Middlesex player Chris Batt caught by Greg Pooley in the slips for a duck.

Roger Ford (3-5, off seven overs) was devastating as he claimed the next three wickets, two bowled and one caught, and Blyghton soon claimed another victim.

Spinner Daminda Wijesekera (4-33, off 13 overs) got among the wickets to send Wembley to defeat.

Earlier, after Finchley were put in, the highlight of their innings was a sparkling knock by New Zealander Michael Morrison, who hit 61 off 63 balls, including nine fours and a six.

Peter Sogbodjor (17) and Ben Scott (10) gave the visitors a sound start with a stand of 30, before both fell in quick succession.

Kierthe Ranasinghe was out for six, and Finchley were 50-3.

Greg Pooley (30) and Ossie Fatani (43) shared a 53 partnership that took the total past 100, before Pooley was dismissed.

His brother, skipper Jason Pooley, still struggling to find his form in league games, managed only six. Then Morrison took charge, helped by Fatani in a stand of 81.

With Pooley looking to declare, Finchley had a thrash and were all out for the addition of 16 runs.

On Saturday, Finchley are home to Brondesbury in the league (11.30am), and entertain Mill Hill Village in the Ibex Cup on Sunday (2pm).

On Wednesday, Finchley host the Conference Cup Inter-League Cup game between the Grolsch Middlesex County League and the Surrey League.

OTHER LEAGUE RESULT: Finchley II 212-8 dec. (S Montague 61), Southagte 160-8.

FRIENDLY: Southgate Adelaide 153 (A Burn 33, S Montague 6-39), Finchley 156-6 (Y Durrani 80 no, A Ghosh 48), M Fitzpatrick 4-35).