The First Class Counties are already three weeks into the season but the National Counties start their competitive season tomorrow, in the 50 Overs Trophy. Bucks Men begin with a trip to Usk, Monmouthshire, where they will face Wales.
There have been a few changes in the Bucks team over the winter. Captain Alexei Kervezee has departed to take up Lead 2nd XI and Assistant Coach positions at Worcestershire, where he started his First Class career. The new captain is Conner Haddow who pretty much single-handedly bowled Bucks to victory in the Three Day Championship last season. Also departing is opener Cameron Hemp, to Usk CC, and wicketkeeper Ross Richardson.
Batter Matt Pardoe joins, a former Worcestershire pro and captain of Herefordshire for 10 years. He teaches Geography at the RGS, where he is the cricket coach, and he will be playing for High Wycombe CC this season. Also joining are Bertie Foreman, an off-spinning all-rounder who spent three years at Sussex and had a loan spell at Worcestershire last season, and Josh Lincoln, a seeming all-rounder who has played the last four years for Berkshire. He continues to play for High Wycombe with his wicketkeeper brother Dan, who has departed Berkshire as captain and signed for Staffordshire. Talented Northants 2nd XI batter Aadi Sharma will continue to play for Bucks this season.
Men Fixtures. Note the showcase fixture against Middlesex at Wormsley in July. MCC have taken up a two year residency at Wormsley - Wormsley Cricket Ground | MCC
Tomorrow, Sunday, the men play their second 50 Over Trophy group game, against Oxfordshire at the attractive Thame CC in the centre of town. The match starts at 11am at Church Road, Thame OX9 3AJ. There is a chance of some rain late afternoon.
Bucks were put in and made 257-8 off their allotted overs. An innings of two halves, like last week Bucks made a slow start, a combination of good bowling, and a big and slow outfield (longish grass).
A sparkling seventh wicket partnership of 123 of 73 balls by Josh Lincoln (87 off 44) and Ed Bragg (42 off 44) turned it all around. Lincoln hit 8 sixes and 257 is a very good score to make.
Very good bowling by Bucks, wickets spread around, Haddow the pick with 3-15 off 9.1. Bucks fielding was also excellent, Billy Dodds with two spectacular catches.
Tomorrow, Sunday, both Men and Women are in action.
The Men play Dorset at Tring Park in the 50 Overs Trophy, starting at 11am. A win for Bucks will secure progress to the quarter-finals. Dorset are the holders and have won one and lost two in the group. Preview with squad details and thoughts from Josh Lincoln. Bring warm clothing, north east wind blowing!
The women are on the road to Warrington, to play Cheshire in the Vitality Blast Womenβs League 3 Division 1B.
Bucks Men won by 76 runs, bowling out Dorset for 188 off 46.3. A very good all round performance, Bucks qualify for the quarter-finals with one match still to play, home to Cornwall next Sunday at Tring Park again.
Bucks Women lost their second T20 by 46 runs. Cheshire 133-6 off 20, Bucks 87 all out off 18.5.
A terrific game at Tring Park today as Bucks beat Cornwall by 2 wickets in their final 50 over group match. Bucks have won 4/4 to top the group & move on to the quarter-finals. This match will be a local derby v Berkshire at High Wycombe CC on Sunday 7th June (kick-off 11am). A match not to be missed!
Surely itβs βStart of playβ and not βKick offβ ? Or has limited over/pyjama cricket shelved another tradition. Eddie Monsoon will be banging his head against his Wisden cricket bible.
