Report: Michael Knox

Image: Andy Bone, Sports Shots

Bucks Men have a chance to make it three National Counties Cluberly Championship titles in four years following a resounding eight-wicket victory over Cambridgeshire on Tuesday.

This result, plus nearest rivals Suffolk's failure to beat Staffordshire means that Bucks will again play Western Division champions Devon in the Championship final at West Bromwich Dartmouth from September 6-9th. Their two previous successes in 2023 and 2025 were also against Devon.

Bucks, who chose field first, were held up on the first day by excellent half-centuries from Cambridgeshire's Tom Cullen (86) and Will Routledge (76). They helped the hosts to reach 291 before being bowled out in the 90th over. 

Skipper Conner Haddow returned 4-90 in a marathon 33-over spell, while High Wycombe seamer Liam Bulteel, one of three Championship debutants in the Bucks team, was rewarded for an accurate spell with the final wicket. 

The Bucks innings followed a similar pattern. Matt Pardoe (72) and Archie Dodds (55) established a strong platform before Chesham teenager Daksh Sabherwal made a most promising debut with 62 off 133 balls to help Bucks reach 308 all out - a slender first-innings lead of 17 runs. 

The game swung dramatically Bucks's way in the final session of the second day, when Cambridgeshire sensationally collapsed from 50-3 to 66 all out, losing their last seven wickets for 16 runs in 12.3 overs to the left-arm spin of Pardoe and Haddow. Pardoe achieved the amazing figures of 5-7 off eight overs with four maidens.

This left Bucks only 50 for victory. They could not quite complete a two-day victory, but needed only 15 balls on the final day to ease home by eight wickets thanks to an assured unbeaten 35 from their third debutant Jack Bates 19, recruited from Geddington.

Following a hard-earned draw between Staffordshire and Suffolk, the result secured a division title for Bucks as Staffs held out at 285/7.