Buckingham Town Cricket Club - August 5th 2006

The home side elected to bat first at their picturesque Cotswold ground with openers Andy Hemming and Paul Hemming putting on 23 for the opening wicket.

Pearson bowled a very tidy line and was taking advantage of the humidity. His swing found the edge of Paul Hemming's bat and James Gear accepted a good chance at second slip before he castled Andy Hemming three runs later.

Rob Large introduced Bryn Jones in the ninth over who proceeded to drift the ball away to the right hander.

Pearson found the edge of Jason Constable's willow and Jonny Cater took the catch behind the timbers before Jones saw Ian Lewis' slash find Jimad Khan, who held the chance. Both failing to score.

With experienced campaigner Phil Garner batting with dogged determination, he could only watch as Jones and Pearson swing saw Lambert (0) and Panter (0) bowled by the pair respectively.

Garner (24) finally departed after he edged behind to Cater as Shipton crumbled to 52 for 7.

Dickon Morris and Chris Brain showed some much needed application before Morris (7) looped a chance to Ben Stafford, whose catch gave Jones another victim before the bowler struck again when Khan took a difficult chance low down as the home side went to 58 for 9 in just the 23rd over.

Brain and Pike caused some slight frustration for Town as they took the score to 97 before Gear, one for 3 in two overs, trapped Pike in front.

Pearson, five for 40 in seventeen overs, and Jones, four for 21 in ten overs, bowled in the corridor of uncertainty and, using the conditions, reaped excellent rewards.

In reply, Matthew Thatcher and Leigh Tomlinson gave Town just the start that were looking for as they added a positive half century opening stand.

Tomlinson, in particular, was in bullish mood as he punished Shipton's regular short deliveries.

With the score on 53, Thatcher (11) was adjudged to have edged behind down the leg side before Cater (18) played well before he was out eleven runs short of Town's target.

Khan (4 not out) launched a boundary to leave Tomlinson to hit two fours in two balls to take Town to victory and bring up an excellent half century from 60 balls.

The result sees Town stay third with 247 points, seven behind league leaders Aston Rowant, and they entertain second place Oxford Downs (248 points) on saturday, 1pm start.

Town's bowling took a battering as Downs 2nd string despatched Town for a huge 333 for 3 as they declared after just 45 overs. Richard Pengelly bagged two wickets on a day no bowler relished looking at his figures.

After the declaration, James Tomlinson made a solid 68 from 93 balls before youngster Pritchard took his side through to post a respectable total of 255 for 6 in 55 overs.

Pritchard's innings lasted 130 minutes and he faced 120 balls. The youngster performed with aplomb as he finished undefeated on 106 in an innings that contained fourteen fours.

The result leaves Town 2nd placed third in Division Four of the Oxford Times Cherwell League, 31 points behind leaders Long Marston, although they do have a game in hand. Chearsley, Town's opponents on saturday, are currently filling the second promotion slot with Town 2nd needing a big push in the remaining five games if they are to go up.