Buckingham Town Cricket Club - September 9th 2006

Rob Large's side did what they had to do on saturday as they defeated Oxford 2nds by four wickets before hearing that Aston Rowant had scrambled to a three wicket win over Oxford Downs with just seven balls remaining.

Town won the toss and Large elected to chase as Greg Pearson removed both openers - Hutcheson leg before and Vainker was caught by Leigh Tomlinson.

The introduction of spin twins James Gear and Ben Stafford saw the pair rip through the home side's batting order.

Gear had Williams (45) trapped in front, Stafford bowled Stern (8) before the pair combined to remove Morgan (9) off of Gear's bowling.

Stafford bowled Lawton-Smith (18) before Jonny Cater stumped Fox (5) off of Gear, then Tomlinson took another catch, this time to remove Buchanan (8) from Stafford's delivery.

Gear had Leach (0) caught by Pearson before Mohammed holed out to Jimad Khan off Stafford as Oxford were all out for 166.

Gear and Stafford finished with identical figures of four for 43, although Gear bowled 14 overs compared to Stafford's thirteen.

In reply, Large (12) was trapped in front with the score on 54 before Cater (15) was castled.

Opener Leigh Tomlinson capped a fine season with another half century, his fifth of the campaign, as Khan (26), Dan Harris (9) and Bryn Jones (5) were all bowled.

Tomlinson eventually fell just three runs short of victory for another gutsy 67 before Gear (12 not out) saw Town to a four-wicket win.

Town held on in the hope that the result from Aston Rowant went their way but sadly it was not to be and they were left in the runners up spot.

Henley batting first scored a useful 252-8. Pick of the Buckingham bowling was skipper Helps 3-54 and Harsh Jethra 3-58 and youngster Steve Brunning had a tidy spell of four overs and picked up a wicket.

Town made a very poor start crashing to 26-6 but skipper Stuart Helps batted very well for his 56. Steve Brunning batted well also as Town were bowled out for 97 although Nev Pritchard did not bat being injured.

Innings of Henley Town 3rds

M. Ayres        c Pritchard     b Helps         16
S. Davison                    lbw Jehtra         5
T. Kendrick     c Jethra        b Helps         18
T. Huysinga     c Pritchard     b Jethra        28
J. Satin        c Talbot        b Dipple        35
T. Horne        c N Norman      b Brunning       0
R. Pratley                      b Jethra        42
N. Sweet        st Jones        b Jethra        34
S. Taylor               not             out     20
J.Gould                 not             out      1
                                Extras          53
                                Total          252-8

M. Dipple       13-1-80-1
S. Helps        13-1-54-3
H. Jethra       11-1-58-3
S. Brunning     4-1-22-1
A. Norman       5-0-20-0

Innings of Buckingham Town 3rds

N. Norman       c Huysinga      b Head          10
T. Jones        c Davison       b Head           0
M. Dipple                       b Taylor         0
J. Talbot       c Sweet         b Head           0
A. Johnson      c Huysinga      b Taylor         8
T. Hill                         b Head           0
H. Jethra       c Pratley       b Satin          8
S. Helps        c Sweet         b Pratley       56
A. Norman                       b Satin          0
S. Brunning             not             out      5
N. Pritchard    did not bat (injured)            -
                                Extras          10
                                Total           97-9(all out)

P. Head         11-4-16-4
S. Taylor       7-0-27-2
R. Pratley      9.1-1-38-1
J. Satin        6-0-11-2