Buckingham Town Cricket Club - June 10th 2006

See pictures of the day's play.

Town got off to a great start thanks to some fine stroke play by Jones as Leigh Tomlinson (12) and skipper Rob Large (18) chipped in.

Jones reached a 56-ball half century before finally departing with the score having reached the hundred mark. The opener's innings contained 11 boundaries, including one six.

With the game in the balance, Dan Harris and Jonny Cater shared a stand worth 93 runs as the pair played with control. Cater (27) was dismissed as Harris reached his half century in 43 balls.

James Gear joined the proceedings before Harris was caught for a superb 65 runs in just 61 balls, including nine fours.

Gear (23) and Pearson (11) both batted well before Graham Judd (6 not out) and Jason Ell (2 not out) took Town through to 248 for 8 from their 50 overs.

Town felt they could have posted a bigger target but their final score worked to their advantage as Downs were always in the hunt for victory, especially when they got off to a bright start.

Jimad Khan picked up an early wicket before taking a good catch to dismiss Downs' South African dangerman Goolam Bhayat off the bowling of Chris Harris as Downs went along at a run a ball early on.

After the minor setback it was Mark Wingfield-Digby who played the anchor role as his partner Will Bartlett opened up with a number of boundaries.

At 188 for 3, with just 61 runs wanted from 15 overs the pair appeared to be taking their side to victory. That was before Town swung the game back in their favour thanks to wickets from Khan and Gear in just seven balls.

Downs were still positive though with the game evenly poised but again Town came back with a Khan leg before and a Large run out to set up a thrilling finish.

Skipper Large turned to the experience of Pearson and Gear to bowl in tandem at the death.

Pearson took a wicket in his first over of his second spell then bowled a wicket maiden as Downs wanted eight to win from three overs with eight wickets down.

Downs scored three from Gear's over, the 48th of their innings, before Pearson yorked Hope and Gaunlett in the penultimate over to give his side victory. Wingfield-Digby finished undefeated on 57 not out.

The former Dorridge seamer finished with five for 22 from 10 overs although his second spell of four for 6 in four overs gave Town a victory which lifts them to third in the Division One table. The only negative for Town was that they lost two points for a slow over rate but Large's side would have taken that scenario at the start of play.

Batting first, Chearsley came under immediate pressure when opening bowler Valambhia had Warr caught by Andy Thatcher in the third over with the score on 6.

Davies(64) and Veness(30) then pushed the score along at four an over to the half way stage but a run out by James Tomlinson and a wicket from Paul Sly in the space of an over restricted the visitors from increasing the run rate.

Babbington(65) began to take on the anchor role but found little support from his middle order as Pritchard(4-24) and Sly(3-83) regularly took wickets. They were ably supported by keeper Rob Pritchard who was in good form behind the stumps, claiming three stumping victims and conceding only one bye. Babbington was the last man out in the final over when the total reached 211.

In reply, Town got off to a disappointing start when opener Maggs Thatcher was out caught in the second over when the ball looped up in the air having hit his bat and boot. The in form Adam Izzard then joined Mike Taylor who together added 119 for the second wicket with the Chearsley bowlers finding the going tough on a wicket offering them little help.

Izzard(62) was eventually caught at deep long off and replaced by Tomlinson but he was unfortunately run out. Andy Thatcher followed soon after caught and bowled although at the other end Taylor continued to maintain the scoring rate.

A breezy knock by Dom Pritchard(23), which included three fours and a six came just at the right moment to see Town home with three overs to spare and take maximum points. Taylor finished with an excellent unbeaten 87.

Batting first Buckingham slumped to 36-6 but rallied through S.Helps(21),R.Pengelly(20) and R. Spragg(18) with opener N. Norman batting through out for 38n.o.

Spindler 5-55 bowled well.

Wallingford saw both openers dismissed with superb catches from D.Direkze.

R.Pengelly bowled well with 3-45 and after an expensive first over N. Wilkes did well with 2-29.

A spirited display from Buckingham who felt match decisions didn't go their way and Thompson's run out didn't help matters also.

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

N. Norman       not     out             38
T. Jones                b Spindler       3
P. Arnold             lbw Spindler       0
N. Wilkes       c       b Green          0
R. Thompson     run     out              6
D. Direkze      c       b Green          6
A. Peshavaria   c       b Spindler       2
S. Helps        c       b Dimirchi      21
R. Pengelly           lbw Spindler      20
R. Spragg       c       b Dimarchi      18
m. Dipple               b Spindler       0
                        Extras          26
                        Total          130-10

T. Spindler     21.5-4-55-5
M. Green        11-3-30-2
A. Dimarchi     10-2-43-2

Innings of Wallingford Town 1st XI

M. Bowman       c Direkze  b Pengelly   11
L. Ainsworth    c Direkze  b Spragg     35
W. Ainsworth               b Pengelly    2
R. Sessions                b Wilkes     26
A. Bowman                  b Pengelly    0
A. Dirmarchi    not        out          29
A. Elias                   b Wilkes      1
I. Saunders     not        out           5
                           Extras       19
                           Total       133-6

R. Spragg       9-0-45-1
R. Pengelly     17.3-5-45-3
N. Wilkes       9-5-29-2