Buckingham Town Cricket Club - July 1st 2006

After Khan caught and bowled Rathbone early on, Strong (38) and Simpson (43) gave the home side a solid start but were removed by a Khan catch off the bowling of Jason Ell and Ben Stafford accepted a return catch in his first over.

Sprittles blazed away as Stafford bowled Ghufran Mohammed (10), James Tomlinson and James Gear combined to run out Packard.

Dan Harris had an outstanding direct hit from the deep to finally remove Sprittles (74) sandwiched between Gear castling Ward and Hardy.

When Gear took a wicket with the last ball of the innings, MK Park had closed on 220 for 9 from their 50 overs.

Gear was the pick of the bowling with three for 59 from 14 overs, while Stafford's spin, two for 27 from six overs, supported at the other end. Khan and Ell both chipped in with one wicket each.

Town lost three early wickets chasing as Leigh Tomlinson (33) supported his skipper Rob Large with a 53-run stand for the fourth wicket.

Dan Harris (24) helped take Town through to 147 for 4 as Large reached a fine 60-ball half century in 69 minutes.

Town continued to chase but lost vital wickets and in the end were finally all out for 206.

Mohammed finished with five for 61 while Packard took three for 55.

Town remain in third spot having taken 18 points from the days play.

Losing the toss, Town were asked to field first in the sweltering heat and on a flat wicket and they responsed to the task brilliantly as they restricted Challow to 160 all out at tea.

Paul Sly(6-46) lead the way with an impressive spell of eighteen overs supported by Dom Pritchard(3-64) and this together with an excellent fielding display contained Challow to a moderate score. Only Penrose(33) and Burry(29) showed any real threat for the visitors but they were never given the chance to accelerate and set a realistic target.

In reply, Town openers Thatcher(77) and Taylor(31) added ninety four for the first wicket before Taylor was run out. Adam Izzard(36)then took the attack to the opposition hitting six fours and a six into Bourton Road and with Thatcher undefeated on seventy seven, secured maximum points.

Next weekend, Town visit neighbours Brackley in what promises to be a tough encounter as they continue to press for top position in the league

Town won the toss and batted making a good start through hard hitting Andy Thatcher(41) and the solid Nigel Norman(51). The middle order batsmen A.Johnson(32) and skipper Helps(56) put Town in a good position.

H. Jethra(11) and Nev Pritchard(19) scored useful runs as Town made an impressive 258-10. Pritchard's knock included a huge six.

Bagpuize made a steady start but never threatened to win the game closing on 161-7.

Matt Dipple bowled the dangerous Temple early and had a good catch to dismiss A. Slatter.

Skipper Helps had a tidy spell and spinners Nick Wilkes and Andy Norman also bowled well.

Colt H. Jethra did well with 3-17 from his five overs.

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

A. Thatcher                     lbw Hickman     41
N. Norman                       c&b Stockwell   51
R. Thompson     c S. Temple     b   Hickman      0
N. Wilkes       c A. Slatter    b   Wolfe        1
A. Johnson                      lbw Hickman     32
S. Helps                run     out             56
D. Direkze                      b   Hickman      3
H. Jethra       c V. Bush       b   Hickman     11
M. Dipple                       b   Hickman      0
N. Pritchard            not     out             19
A. Norman       st Temple       b   Hickman      1
                                Extras          41
                                Total          258-10

M. Piper        3-0-38-0
P. Hickman      22.5-3-83-7
A. Wolfe        7-0-33-1
M. Stockwell    13-1-98-1

Innings of Kingston Bagpuize 2nds

P. Temple                       b Dipple        13
V. Bush         c Johnson       b Wilkes        30
A. Slatter      c Dipple        b Helps         12
C. Slatter                    c&b Jethra        33
P. Hickman                      b Norman        18
A. Wolfe                        b Jethra        15
C. Daniels              not     out              0
M. Piper        c Thatcher      b Jethra         0
O. Bush                 not     out              7
                                Extras          33
                                Total          161-7

M. Dipple       10-2-42-1
S. Helps        13-1-46-1
N. Wilkes       8-0-29-1
A. Norman       7-2-11-1
H. Jethra       5-0-17-3
D. Direkze      2-0-3-0
R. Thompson     1-0-3-0