Buckingham Town Cricket Club - July 15th 2006

Rowant were restricted to 26 for 2 early on with Chris Harris claiming both wickets, one courtesy of an edge to Jonny Cater.

The visitors' prolific Australian Andrew Hicks (131) then shared a massive 198 third wicket partnership with Chris Watling before Greg Pearson bowled him.

It was the first of six wickets to fall for just 32 runs as Town showed great character as they turned around a poor display in the field in to getting close to victory in an amazing nine overs.

Jason Ell ran out Eaton, Pearson trapped White (1) in front before Leigh Tomlinson's sharpness ran out Watling (56) and Town sensed a dramatic victory.

Needham (1) was adjudged leg before off of Ell's bowling before the seamer accepted a pressure chance in the deep from the returning Chris Harris.

With a run-a-ball required off the last two overs, Pearson calmly bowled a maiden and Rowant could only scramble two runs off the last over to leave themselves ten runs short in a game they surely felt they should have won.

Earlier in the day Leigh Tomlinson and Jonny Cater shared a second wicket partnership worth 108 runs that gave Town a soild platform from which to build.

Cater was eventually out for a well worked 34 from 64 balls in 96 minutes which brought Jimad Khan to the wicket.

Khan and Tomlinson kept the pace going as the Town opener reached a 73 ball half century.

Tomlinson was out in the 37th over for a superb 74. His innings contained 13 fours from 84 balls.

Bryn Jones (14) chipped in before Khan's powerful hitting saw him despatch Rowant's bowling to all parts of the ground as he reached a 39 minute half century from just 46 balls.

The Kiwi's blitz saw him smash 6 fours and 7 sixes before he was bowled by Watling six short of a deserved century. Khan faced just 75 balls for his 94 runs and batted a little over an hour.

Dan Harris finished unbeaten on 20 as he faced just 11 balls at the end as Town posted 268 for 6.

Asked to bat first on a flat wicket, Town were soon in trouble when they lost both openers Taylor and Tomlinson with the score on thirteen. Adam Izzard and Pete Arnold then added sixty five runs before Arnold(16) was bowled by Dallimore.

Izzard (74) began to dominate the bowling and struck thirteen fours in his innings before he was bowled by Keale. Nick Board(37) battled away but had little support from the middle order as wickets fell regularly although Lawrence de Silva struck a lively 32 not out asTown reached a modest total of 201 for 8 at tea.

Marston got their innings off to the start they needed when they took advantage of a number of loose deliveries from opening bowlers De Silva and Judd and after twevle overs had reached 112.

Ben Stafford and Paul Sly bowled well to retrieve the situation, Sly removing the dangerous Lyons(50) in his second over. The introduction of Tomlinson and Pritchard saw the game suddenly swing in favour of Town as wickets began to fall and the Marston batsmen began to lack confidence. Only Marsh (46) kept his composure and saw his side home to victory with nine wickets down.

Town won the toss and batted and scored a useful 238-5. Opener Andy Thatcher hit a quick fire 52 and then a fine knock from John Talbot 88n.o. gave Town a good total with supporting innings from Russell Thompson(88) and skipper Stuart Helps 29n.o.

In reply Horspath reached their target wiht just 9 balls left thanks to a rapid 61n.o. from S. Rana as the oxon side scored 112 runs from 10 overs. Richard Pengelly bowled well with 3-124 from his 22.3 overs.

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

A. Thatcher     c Thompson      b Smith         52
N. Norman                     lbw Creed          1
T. Jones                run     out              5
J. Talbot               not     out             88
R. Thompson                   c&b Heritage      31
A. Johnson                    lbw Heritage       0
S. Helps                not     out             29
                                Extras          32
                                Total          238-5

S. Rana         8-0-37-0
D. Creed        18-2-66-1
T. Smith        5-0-29-1
D. Heritage     10-0-59-2
S. Berry        5-0-38-0

Innings of Horspath 2nds

A. Eason                        b Pengelly      23
D. Watts                        b Helps         44
P. Chanel       c Direkze       b Pengelly      23
D. Creed                        b Pengelly      28
S. Rana         not     out                     61
S. Berry        c Helps         b Jethra        16
D. Heritage     not     out                      9
                                Extras          36
                                Total          240-5

R. Pengelly     22.3--3-124-3
M. Dipple       4-0-23-0
H. Jethra       8-0-28-1
S. Helps        10-0-47-1