Town lose Falkland conflict

Buckingham Town lost their important Home Counties Premier League Division Two (west) match at Falkland by just 15 runs last Saturday.

In another game where they had chances to beat a Falkland side containing three Berkshire minor county players, Town went down by a narrow margin and will now be relegated unless feeder league sides are not promoted.

James Gear inserted the host side and Steve Beck soon removed the former Hampshire batsman, Julian Wood, and Brewster as Falkland went to 12 for 2.

Chris Harris then had Trumper caught by Jason Ell before his catch off the first ball of Tarun Nethula's spell accounted for Morris.

At 36 for 4, Gowland and Heath were forced to dig in for Falkland and they progressed past the century mark.

The re-introduction of Harris saw him bowl Gowland (39) as he returned with season's best figures of 3 for 47 in 15 overs.

Nethula and Beck collected a brace of wickets each before Gear and two run outs saw Falkland dismissed in the last over for 168 runs.

Town got off to a disappointing start with Graham Judd, Andy Thatcher and Matthew Thatcher all out to the bowling of Berkshire's James Morris with only 28 runs on the board.

Steve Beck again looked in fine form as he and Chris Board took the score past fifty before Board was unfortunately run out.

Beck was joined by Nethula and the pair looked comfortable at the crease.

Just before tea, Beck was bowled for a solid 33 runs and it was left to Nethula to take up the challenge.

After tea the kiwi reached a fine 65-ball half century in 82 minutes but lost Gear and Anthony Romaine.

His stand with Dan Harris was worth a needed 35 runs and with just 16 runs to win from four overs Town looked set to claim victory.

Morris' eighth over, the 47th of the match, turned the game as Nethula was bowled for an outstanding 61 runs, Jason Ell was out to a blinding catch from Heath then Chris Harris was bowled four balls later.

Dan Harris could only watch from the non-strikers end and finished unbeaten on 17 not out.