Buckingham Town Cricket Club - June 3rd 2006

Buckingham Town lost the toss & Shipton elected to bat first. The opening pair of A. Hemming & C. Brain started slowly on a slow low track, and after 15 overs Buckingham got the break through with a wicket from overseas player Jimad Khan with the score on 41.

The next over Chris Harris bowled Hemming with the score on 44. S. Bates & P. Hemming were then at the crease and put on 42 before the introduction of James Gear saw him dismiss Shipton captain Bates caught & bowled.

It was then the wickets started to tumble. A good piece of fielding from captain Large saw him run out Wadsworth & Gear claimed his second wicket in as many overs. Khan returned to the attack in the 36th over and took the wicket of P.Hemming (31) and his following over saw him claim another victim and finish with figures of 3 for 33 off 13 in his first game for Buckingham Town CC.

Gear took 2 more wickets with the help of catches from Chris Harris and he finished the day with 4 for 17 off 9.2. Shipton finished their innings on 139.

In reply Buckingham Town lost the early wicket of Matt Thatcher with the score on 8. There was no reason to panic as Lee Tomlinson & Rob Large played the Shipton bowling attack with great ease, picking off the loose deliveries as and when they came. Large was unfortunately out caught behind having made 49 and the score on 117.

With 23 runs needed for victory Town didn't look like losing. Lee Tomlinson made his 50 off 86 balls and finished the day on unbeaten on 52. The introduction of Khan (19 no) saw him attack the Shipton bowling from the off and finished the game in style with a 4 & 6 from consecutive balls.

Town finished with a well earned 30 points and Shipton with 7. Next week Buckingham Town travel to Oxford Downs.

Put into bat on a good batting pitch, Town's openers Thatcher and Tomlinson put on 61 for the first wicket which laid the foundation for Adam Izzard to completely dominate all of the Down's bowlers as he powered his way to a superb unbeaten 113. Supported by Thatcher(61), Thompson(17) and Valambhia(13) Town closed their innings on 243 for 4.

Starting positively, Down's openers Roberts and Caunce siezed on early loose deliveries. Caunce(93) was particularly severe on anything pitched up on off stump, hitting six sixes and six fours until Valambhia, bowling a tight line and length, removed his middle stump with a slower ball.

At the half way stage Downs were well on target with the run rate with useful contributions from Pearson(28) and Hope(28) but the introduction of teenage off spinner Stafford (4-29) gave the initiative back to Town as he claimed four wickets in the space of four overs.

Losing wickets at this critical time, put Downs back on the defensive and as they clawed their way forward to an additional batting point, Town were unlucky not to claim maximum points as the opposition held on to finish on 221-8.

Town 18 points, Oxford Downs 6 points.

Aylesbury batting first scored a respectable 235-8 (all out) on an easy paced wicket and fast outfield. Nick Wilkes picked up 2-15 with his spin.

Buckingham made a good start with the experience of Nigel Norman(38) and colt Tom Jones was in form fine with (88). An opening partnership of 146 from these two put Buckingham into a winning position against a weak Aylesbury bowling attack who lost opening bowler Andrews injured after only four overs.

Colt Nick Wilkes saw Buckingham home with a confident 54 not out.

Innings of Aylesbury Town 2nds

Ilyas           run             out             27
C. Andrews                      b Helps         33
K. Rashid                       b Jethra        13
A. Majid                        b Peshavaria    31
G. Hart         c Pengelly      b Wilkes        60
M. Younis       c Direkze       b Wilkes        19
k. Dale                 run             out      5
A. Khan                         b Pengelly      11
A. Norchi               not     out              0
                                Extras          33
                                Total          235-8(all out)

R. Pengelly     12.4-0-69-1
S. Helps        13-1-37-1
H. Jethra       4-0-31-1
A. Peshavaria   4-0-40-1
N. Norman       3-0-28-0
N. Wilkes       2-0-15-2

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

N. Norman                       lbw Dale        38
T. Jones        c               b Majid         88
P. Arnold       c               b Dale           7
N. Wilkes       not             out             54
S. Helps        not             out             16
                                Extras          35
                                Total          238-3

A. Khan         7-0-54-0
C. Andrews      2-0-8-0
A. Majid        8-0-53-1
M. Younis       5-0-30-0
K. Dale         5-0-36-2
K. Rashid       3-0-29-0
A. Norchi       0.5-0-18-0