2nd XI lose at Tew
Francois Smit smashed a superb century
as Town 2nd X1 went for maximum points to secure second place and the chance of promotion.
Following last week's slip up against Shipton, Town knew they needed to win at Gt Tew to
have any chance of securing a promotion slot and when the home side won the toss and
decided to ask Town to bat it was clear the task would not be easy to bowl a side out on a
very flat and slow wicket.
Tew's opening attack of Myatt and Harris proved to be awkward as the ball moved around on
a wicket which had some dampness. Openers Taylor and Talsania started solidly but Myatt
claimed both their wickets in a short space of time, one a slower ball which completely
deceived Taylor.
Chris Board was joined by Francois Smit and together they gradually took apart the Tew
attack with contrasting styles, Smit pulling and cutting fiercely and Board driving into
the gaps and putting pressure on the opposition by running quickly between the wickets.
Together they put shared a partnership of 183 before Smit was out for 107 and Board 80.
Ryan Spragg chipped in with a quick 21 not out, to enable Town to declare on 253 with six
overs remaining.
Tew were immediately in trouble when opening bowler Heavisides removed openers Marlowe and
Croft with the score on ten, but new batsman Myatt decided to attack and crashed his way
to 41 with some powerful hitting, before he was bowled by Talsania.
Tew's captain Catling tried to maintain the momentum but when he was caught in the deep by
Taylor off the bowling of Talsania, the home side looked to be in trouble and wickets
began to fall regularly.
Paul Sly ,the league's leading wicket taker, collected another two wickets and Talsania
picked up a further three wickets with his left arm spin and with eight overs remaining
Tew had struggled to 170 with eight wickets down.
Tew's King and Widdows decided to shut up shop to try and deny Town the final two wickets
and in spite of Chris Board removing King bowled, Town were unable to take the final
wicket and claim the additional points for victory.
With some doubt outstanding about the playing eligibility of one of the Tew players, all
may not be lost for Town but they will need to wait for an official League ruling before
any decisions are made.
After the game Nick Board commented, " We did really well to set a challenging target
and then to take nine wickets, but to leave a situation where you need to take maximum
points on the last day of the season is high risk and one which could cost us dearly. What
has been particularly pleasing though is that there have been some terrific individual
performances this year which we will be able to build on for next season"
Scorecard
Buckingham Town
Taylor c Catling
B Myatt
19
Talsania c & b
Myatt
4
Board C c & b
Gillett
79
Smit St Kettlewell
Marlowe 107
Spragg
Not
Out
21
Board N
Not
Out
3
Extras
20
Total
for 4 wkts 253
Bowling
Myatt 11-0-70-2; Harris 7-0-21-0; Croft 12-0-57-0; S Catling 5-1-24-0; E Catling 1-0-12-0;
King 2-0-16-0; Gillett3-0-23-1; Marlowe 2-0-16-1
Gt Tew
Marlowe
b
Heavisides 0
Croft
b
Heavisides 10
Myatt
b
Talsania 41
T Catling c Taylor
b Talsania
26
S Catling c Spragg
b Sly
14
Harris c Spragg
b Talsania
1
Kettlewell
b
Sly
19
Gillett
b
Talsania 11
King
b
C Board 23
Widdows
Not
Out
11
E Catling
Not
Out
8
Extras
13
Toatal
for 9 wkts
177
Bowling
Spragg13-3-41-0; Heavisides 6-2-12-2; Sly 20-6-52-2; Talsania 14-1-50-4; C Board 3-1-10-1