Buckingham Town Cricket Club - August 12th 2006

Downs won the toss and inserted Town on a green-topped wicket that appeared to be a seamers' paradise. Despite the early impressions, Town made runs look easy to come by as they took full advantage of a lightening quick outfield.

Leigh Tomlinson and Matthew Thatcher posted an excellent 132-run opening stand. The pair combined superb running between the wickets with some excellent strokeplay before Thatcher returned a catch to Oxfordshire new boy Chris Sandbach having made a workmanlike 40.

During the opening stand, Tomlinson reached a fine half century for the second consecutive saturday and proceeded to continue with his well organised innings. He found Jonny Cater looking in the best saturday form of his season to date as they took their side past the 200-mark.

Tomlinson's pugnacious knock saw him reach his maiden league century before finally being out in the fortieth over. His 107 runs came in 139 minutes from 115 balls and contained sixteen fours.

Cater reached his half century before being caught by Danny Lee off of the bowling of Goolam Bhayat and depart for 59 with the score on 234.

Jimad Khan and Dan Harris then set about the Downs attack as they added an unbeaten stand of 92 runs from the last seven overs.

The pair were in aggressive mood as over 48 and 49 went for twenty and twenty-three runs respectively.

Harris finished unbeaten on 53 from just 30 balls, including four fours and three sixes, while Khan was undefeated on 31 having clubbed two fours and two sixes.

When the pair ran a two off the last ball of the innings it took Town to their biggest ever total in the Cherwell League since the Cherwell and Trinty Leagues merged to produce the 50 overs per side format in 1994. They beat the previous record total of 325 for 5 declared against Banbury XX on the 16th August 2003.

In replying, Downs got off to a terrible start as James Tomlinson's alertness saw him run out Rob Dow with a direct hit from 30 yards before Greg Pearson trapped Wes Bartlett in front, both without scoring. Ironic as both batsmen had opened at Bourton road in the second eleven fixture between the two clubs just a week earlier and both hammered centuries in an opening stand worth 247 runs.

When Chris Harris had Sandbach leg before, Downs were 26 for 3 in just the seventh over.

The flowing willow of Bhayat saw him play a classy knock and look a dangerous competitor for his Downs side.

Town then took four wickets in five overs as Leigh Tomlinson's spectacular one-handed catch in the covers to dismiss Bhayat (58) was simply unbelievable.

Khan had Perkins caught by James Tomlinson, while Pearson continued to chip away at the other end and bowled West (18) and had Lee (0) caught by Cater.

At 106 for 7 with 30 overs remaining, Town appeared set for victory but counted against James Ellwood and Frank Crouch. Town's captain Jason Ell tried everything in his armoury as the home side used seven bowlers but all to no avail. The pair batted out the overs with a stand of 157 runs for the eighth wicket with Ellwood finishing with a splendid century while Crouch made an unbeaten 37.

Downs finished on 263 for 7 with Pearson, four for 87 in seventeen overs, the pick of Town's bowling.

Despite their frustrations, Town gained seventeen points for their efforts while Downs made just five.

The result pushed Town up in to second place, twenty points behind Aston Rowant, who defeated Challow and Childrey, who visit Bourton road on saturday, 1pm start.

Valambhia took five for 68 in his nineteen over stint while Paul Sly chipped in with a brace as the home side posted 221 for 9 in their 50 overs.

In reply Jones opened the innings with a promise before he was finally out for an excellent 49. Richard Pengelly (23) weighed in with a good knock while Bob Hutt (10) performed with aplomb before Town were all out for 121.

The only other players to reach double figures were Talbot(18) and D.Dritchard(10). Town were bowled out in the 44th over leaving the visitors 48 overs batting.

Wallingford made a spirited reply closing on 184-8 just two runs short of victory. Dom Pritchard with 5-46 from 24 overs bowled well and Matt Dipple took a superb catch.

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

A. Thatcher     c L.Ainsworth   b Green           0
N. Norman       c Bowman        b Green          29
R. Pritchard    c Bowman        b Spindler       92
G. Judd                       lbw Ainsworth       7
J. Talbot       c Saunders      b Ainsworth      18
D. Pritchard    c Saunders      b Spindler       10
S. Helps                        b Ainsworth       1
H. Jethra                     lbw Spindler        2
N. Pritchard                    b Ainsworth       0
M. Dipple                       b Spindler        9
A. Norman               not             out       0
                                Extras           17
                                Total           185-10

T. Spindler     16.2-3-64-4
M. Green        12-2-35-2
A. Dimarchi     6-0-38-0
W. Ainsworth    9-1-40-4

Innings of Wallingford Town 1sts

M. Bowman                     c&b D.Pritchard   14
L. Ainsworth    c Thatcher      b D.Pritchard    4
W. Emmett                     lbw Dipple         0
R. Sessions     c Jethra        b D.Pritchard   25
A. Dimarchi                     b D.Pritchard   18
M. Booth                      lbw Jethra        33
W. Ainsworth    c Dipple        b Judd          30
I. Saunders             not     out             20
M. Green        c N.Norman      b D.Pritchard    0
A. Alias                not     out              5
                                Extras          35
                                Total          184-8

D. Pritchard    24-7-46-5
M. Dipple       7-0-35-0
A. Norman       9-0-31-0
G. Judd         5-1-27-1
H. Jethra       3-0-20-1