Buckingham Town Cricket Club - June 5th 2006

Brackley put their visitors in and bowled and fielded superbly to dominate Town's in-form batsmen. Rob Cartwright (2 for 4 from 4 overs) found late swing to unbalance Nick Wilkes into giving a catch to square leg, while Tom Seckington's sharp leg spin had Tom Jones stumped as Town stumbled to 9 for 2 in the fourth over. Josh Goff (15) and Dilshan Direkze (19) staged a partial recovery but were both caught trying to force the pace too soon. Then rash strokes to spinner Sam Jaffe (5-14) did for Town's middle and lower order before last pair Josh Goodey (6 not out) and Jack Robbins (7) put on 12 vital runs as Town reached 68 from 18.2 overs.

Town's bowling and fielding were as tight as their batting had been loose. Toby O'Neill and Harsh Jethra bowled on the spot to a watchful opening partnership of 20 in 8 overs between Lee Davis (15) and Eric Carpenter (17). After this, the difficulty in scoring exerted growing pressure. Direkze took 3 for 9 and there were 3 run-outs, but Brackley battled it out and the last pair were still there as the final over began.

With 8 needed to win or 7 to tie, Goodey (2-16) held his nerve and his length. Brackley scrambled three singles before Watts drove the last ball firmly over cover point, where Arqam Akhtar timed his leap to perfection to save the boundary (and held on for an exceptional catch).