Buckingham Town Cricket Club - July 23rd 2006

After Greg Pearson removed the top order, finishing with three for 15 in nine overs, and Chris Harris chipped in with one for 9 in five overs, Michael Baker was the only Wolverton Town batsman to shine as he hit a fine half century.

The introduction of Ben Stafford's spin saw him remove the middle order and finish with three for 39 from his nine overs, while Steve Beck's two for 2 included the wicket of Baker (57), who batted well.

When skipper Rob Large, one for 3, took the final wicket to fall Wolverton were dismissed for 117 all out in 40.3 overs.

Jonny Cater and Leigh Tomlinson set about the Wolverton attack as Town raced to 86 without loss in just ten overs.

Cater was eventually out after reaching a quickfire half century, including nine 4s.

Tomlinson (32) was caught and Dan Harris (6) was stumped before Large hit the winning runs and set up a trip to Burnham in the next round on 13th August.

Harrow St Mary U15 vs Buckingham Town U15

Playing their second round tie away to the Middlesex champions, Harrow St Mary, Town were adjudged to have lost by one run. Six were needed off the last ball so all seemed lost until Town's Josh Goodey delighted a strong contingent of visiting supporters by smiting the ball powerfully over the long on fielder, who was positioned between two boundary flags next to the sightscreen. But celebration turned to disbelief as the umpire was surrounded by home supporters and accepted their argument that the flags marked only the sightscreen not the boundary. As he couldn't see whether the ball had cleared the chalk line behind the sightscreen he signalled a four only, which turned victory into defeat.

The controversy overshadowed the game, which Town had by the throat when they had reduced their illustrious opponents to 23 for 6 after 12 overs. Accurate swing bowling from Harsh Jethra (2-12 in 4 overs) accounted for the openers, one the England U15 Ravi Patel, with the help of a sharp catch and stumping by Tom Jones, who was standing up despite Jethra's pace. Then Toby O'Neill (3-5 in 4) turned the screw by removing the rest of the top order, helped by sharp catches by himself and Goodey. Jonny Neeves and Callum Cater kept up the pressure, sharing four overs for six runs during which an edge off Cater was safely held by Jones.

Then Town lost their way, conceding 53 runs in the last 8 overs despite smart run-outs from Neeves and Nick Wilkes, assisted by the ever present Jones who also made a stumping off Wilkes. Harrow finished on 76 for 9. Worse was to come.

Missing three top order batsmen the remaining top three regulars all got out carelessly as Town floundered at 15 for 3 after 6 overs. Then Jethra and Rob Laird saw off Patel and each made a careful 13 to rebuild the innings before Adam Bone (14 not out) brought victory back within sight, but the recovery ended sourly with the official final score 75-7.