For the second successive National Counties Championship match, Bucks recovered from a poor first innings to secure a comfortable draw when they played Eastern Division 1 opponents Suffolk at Tring Park.

Choosing to bat first, Suffolk reached 297 all out on an easy-paced pitch thanks to half-centuries from Alex Oxley (92) and George Rhodes (87). Spinner Conner Haddow took 4-90, while there were tidy spells from Cameron Parsons and Ed Bragg.

As has happened so often this season, the Bucks top order failed as they slipped to 36-3 in reply.

Vansh Jani, in only his second Championship game, and Alexei Kervezee restored the situation with a stand of 49, before Jani was unluckily dismissed for 42 when a straight drive from Kervezee was deflected on to the stumps to see him run out at the bowler's end 

After Kervezee was dismissed for 60, the innings folded and they were all out 137, a deficit of 160. To general surprise, considering the uncertain weather forecast, Suffolk did not enforce the follow-on.

Batting again, the visitors reached 136-3 by the close of the second day, which was curtailed by more than two hours by rain.

On the third morning, Suffolk added 91 in 55 minutes before declaring at 227-7. Opener Darren Ironside made 88 while Haddow picked up another four wickets.

Bucks were set a big target of 388 in 87 overs. Cameron Hemp, thanks to some stunning offside shots, and Michael Wells put on 96 for the first wicket at four an over to give the reigning champions an outside chance of victory.

However, at 103-1 from 30 overs, a torrential shower halted play. 

The delay of nearly three hours ended Bucks's hopes of victory. The teams returned with 15 minutes of play left plus a minimum of 17 overs in the last hour. 

There was little chance of either side forcing a victory but it gave Hemp the chance to complete a magnificent century, his unbeaten 103 coming off just 109 balls with three sixes and 15 fours.

Once he had completed his ton, the captains decided to call a halt with Bucks on 150-1 after 38 overs.

Scorecard

All four games in this division have now ended in draws, so Bucks still have plenty to play for when they next play Bedfordshire at Flitwick from August 11th-13th.

However, before then Bucks have a highly attractive showpiece game against Leicestershire at Grace Road next Monday, starting at 11am.