BROMLEY Cricket Club have failed to defend their Evening Standard Challenge Trophy title going down to Finchley in the semi-final.

It was a tight affair with the teams finishing on 139 runs with Finchley progressing courtesy of losing fewer wickets.

Despite the early loss of Nadeem Saheed, Bromley started well after being put into bat.

A good partnership between Grant Sheen and James Butterfill saw Bromley in the driving seat at drinks.

However, the Finchley bowling tore into the lower order and despite a heroic effort by Matt Isaacs, Bromley were all out for 139 off 42.1 overs.

Finchley sensed a victory but they did not count on Tom Mees who destroyed the opening batsmen, taking 5-27.

At 56-5, Finchley were reeling and Bromley had clawed back the upper hand.

However, man of the match Sunil Tailor batted well to see the visitors home in the penultimate over and get the narrowest of wins.

Bromley still have the Cockspur National Cup final to look forward to on September 4.

Moreover, they are on the verge of winning the Kent Premier League for the third consecutive year and need just three points from their final match to secure the title.