Given that Castlethorpe could only find ten players for Sunday's match, the situation was never going to be improved by the non-arrival of ten per cent of our team.
After losing the toss and being told to field first, captain Martin Jones made his debut as a wicket-keeper while Stuart Crow and Keith Finson opened the bowling. There was then a bizarre period of sustained luck for both opening batsmen as aerial shots landed close to Will Marsh at mid-wicket in almost every direction, but none landed in his hands until 41 runs had already been scored. Stuart was particularly unfortunate, eventually finishing his eight overs with none for 31.
First change bowler Will Marsh took some time to find his length, with one shorter ball in the twelfth over both breaking and dislocating Martin's right ring finger. By drinks, Argles and Harrison had built a large partnership, so Keith took the gloves while Martin tried to halt their progress by having a bowl. He bowled six overs, two for seventeen and Castlethorpe managed to keep Buckingham down to 222, far less than looked likely at one point.
Unfortunately, 222 was a long way out of reach: despite twenty at the top of the order from Martin and an aggressive 32 from Keith at number four, Castlethorpe were still bowled out for 80, losing by 142 runs; a chastening day at the office for the home side.
There were positives, though: Ollie Thompson took a wicket and made double figures on his club debut, and Aaron Day took three excellent catches.
Match report by Martin Jones
After losing the toss and being told to field first, captain Martin Jones made his debut as a wicket-keeper while Stuart Crow and Keith Finson opened the bowling. There was then a bizarre period of sustained luck for both opening batsmen as aerial shots landed close to Will Marsh at mid-wicket in almost every direction, but none landed in his hands until 41 runs had already been scored. Stuart was particularly unfortunate, eventually finishing his eight overs with none for 31.
First change bowler Will Marsh took some time to find his length, with one shorter ball in the twelfth over both breaking and dislocating Martin's right ring finger. By drinks, Argles and Harrison had built a large partnership, so Keith took the gloves while Martin tried to halt their progress by having a bowl. He bowled six overs, two for seventeen and Castlethorpe managed to keep Buckingham down to 222, far less than looked likely at one point.
Unfortunately, 222 was a long way out of reach: despite twenty at the top of the order from Martin and an aggressive 32 from Keith at number four, Castlethorpe were still bowled out for 80, losing by 142 runs; a chastening day at the office for the home side.
There were positives, though: Ollie Thompson took a wicket and made double figures on his club debut, and Aaron Day took three excellent catches.
Match report by Martin Jones