OLLIE Soames, who has played in four County Championship matches for Hampshire in recent weeks, made his long-awaited debut for Finchampstead last Saturday.

And the 23-year-old batsman from Kingston upon Thames, who has also played first-class cricket for Loughborough MCCU, helped them to a welcome 30-run win at Aston Rowant in Division One of the Home Counties Premier League.

In difficult conditions, he opened the innings with Adam Dewes, who was making his first appearance of the season after returning from Durham University.

Dewes made only two, but Soames hit 38 off 52 balls, both being caught by keeper Josh Smith off the bowling of seamer Wesley Morrick.

The departures of Billy Rogers (7) and Toby Albert (0) left Finch 69-4 before the Lincoln brothers raised the total to 101.

Josh also fell to Morrick for 25 and, with Ryan Bone and Tommie Pridgen dismissed cheaply, the visitors were looking shaky at 134-8.

But skipper Dan Lincoln was joined by Zac Jones (19) and they added 38 – the side's highest partnership on the day – before the former was lbw to Morrick for 60, which came off 123 balls and included five boundaries. It was his third successive half-century for the club.

Finch were eventually all back in the pavilion for 172 in the 57th over with Morrick finishing with 6-63 after bowling without a break for 28.2 overs.

When the hosts replied, they were soon in trouble with Ryan Quinn and Rogers reducing them to 43-3.

The next wicket didn't fall until 111, but it was an important one with the dangerous James Coles seeing his excellent knock of 75 (off 83 balls) ended by a superb catch in the deep by Soames off Quinn.

That dismissal inspired Finch as they went on to capture the last six wickets for just nine runs, with the hosts finishing on 142 in the 36th over.

Jones claimed 4-40 off nine overs and fellow seamer Quinn 3-40, also off nine, while Josh Lincoln took 2-5 from 3.5 overs.

Finch, securing their second win of the season, move up to sixth in the table ahead of their home fixture with Tring Park this coming Saturday.