Buckingham Town Cricket Club - May 20th 2006

Town's new investment in to mobile wicket covers ensured that the game went ahead when every other game in Division One lost out to the weather.

Rob Large elected to bat after winning the toss but his Town side found experienced Oxfordshire seamer Keith Arnold and Australian Andrew Grubich leave the home side struggling in the drizzle at 50 for 6 in the 23rd over.

Jones and Pearson played beautifully and gradually batted their side out of trouble. Both played a patient and sensible game as their 98-run seventh wicket stand saw Jones reach his half century before Pearson (40) was finally trapped in front by Martin Thomas.

Town were able to post 176 all out as Jones (77) was the last man dismissed with just two balls remaining.

Arnold's four for 47 the highlight of XX club's bowling.

In reply, Banbury XX played a patient game as skipper John Wright (33) saw his side to 62 for 1 at the 23 over stage.

The introduction of Ell's swing and seam put Town firmly in the ascendancy as he took four for 25 in just ten overs - one dismissal courtesy of an incredible one handed catch by Chris Harris.

Banbury XX were left to bat out for a draw and they finally closed on 118 for 8 in their 50 overs.

An explosion of wild rabbits is damaging the ground which runs alongside the power station and with heavy overnight rain, batting was never going to be easy for either side.

Asked to bat first, Town were soon in trouble having difficulty facing the uneven pace and bounce of the wicket and when Thatcher and Arnold were both out with the score on 19, Didcot got the start they were looking for.

As the rain began to fall, play was interrupted but Board, Tomlinson, Spragg and Stafford had all fallen cheaply and at 55 for 6 were in deep trouble. On resumption of play, Russell Thompson(32) and Annant Preshavaria(17) added a spirited 53 runs for the 7th wicket on a soggy pitch and with their eventual dismissals Town limped to 132 all out, Steve Richardson taking 4-23.

Didcot started their innings positively and sensing an early opportunity, took advantage of loose deliveries from the Town opening attack taking 68 runs from the first 12 overs.

The game then took a dramatic twist with the introduction of Paul Sly (3-17) and off spinner Ben Stafford(2-32) who between them took 5 wickets in the space of 8 overs giving the advantage back to Town.

Although James Tomlinson (2-13) took two further wickets, and two catches were dropped, a partnership of 42 runs between Spindler (22) and Richardson(19) was enough to see Didcot take the driving seat again and, with eight wickets down, secure the win.

Long Marston made 196-8 under damp conditions with Richard Pengelly bowling well taking 6-81.

In reply Buckingham were bowled out for 108 with colt Tom Jones batting well for 41 as S. Vessey took 4-25.

Innings of Long Marston 2nds

Fitzgerald			b Pengelly	41
Chapman				b Pengelly	 4
Evans				b Helps		29
A. Vessey	c Jones		b Pengelly	42
Green				b Pengelly	 4
Rose		c Helps		b Norman	16
Graveson		not	out		13
Wells		c Jones		b Pengelly	 0
S. Vessey		not	out		 6
				Extras		29
				Total	       196-8	

R. Pengelly	23-3-81-6
H. Jethra	5-0-31-0
S. Helps	7-0-26-1
T. Hill		3-0-27-0
A. Norman	7-0-24-1

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

T. Jones	c Graveson	b Horn		41
N. Pritchard	c Green		b Fitzgerald	 5
H. Jethra		run	out		 9
R. Pengelly	c Graveson	b S. Vessey	 0
D. Direkze			b S. Vessey	 2
A. Akhtar			b S. Vessey	 0
T. Hill		c Graveson	b S. Vessey	 1
R. Hutt		c Rose		b Wells		 7
A. Norman		      lbw Horn		 7
S. Helps		not	out		19
B. Whitehead			b Fitzgerald	 1
				Extras		16
				Total	       108-10

S. Vessey	13-3-25-4
S. Fitzgerald	8.5-0-26-2
A. Wells	9-2-30-1
J. Horn		6-1-22-2