WANSTEAD rocketed past Finchley to be crowned the best team inside the London orbital on Sunday.

The Herons are Conference Cup champions after the six-wicket win at Shenley Cricket Club, making them the finest cricket outfit inside the M25.

The team, skippered by Arfan Akram, sped through the Finchley innings in 42 overs, with Joe Ellis-Grewal and Arif Saeed starring with three wickets apiece.

The modest target of 166 was reached with few problems.

Milan Patel shone with his knock of 60, while Merv Westfield brought up the victory in style with a massive six.

Just the day before, Wanstead came within a whisker of hauling themselves right back into the Shepherd Neame Premier Division championship race, only to be denied by Upminster’s resolute final pairing.

The game had been magnificently set up by a gargantuan knock from captain Akram, who plundered 142 runs to allow the team to smash through the 300-run barrier once again.

The hosts looked to have the win within their grasp, as Zain Shahzad (4-44) finally bludgeoned his way through the middle order to expose the tail.

But the visitors dug deep and ground out the draw – a result that leaves the Herons in third place and 20 points behind league leaders Brentwood.