Report: Michael Knox

Image: Andy Bone - Sports Shots

Bucks Men staged a strong turn-around to share the honours with Bedfordshire in their NCCA Dojo T20 - Group 3 double-header at Leighton Buzzard on Sunday.

 
After losing the first group match by seven wickets, Bucks defeated the hosts by 107 runs in the second game to finish the day on a high note.

After being put into bat in the first game, Bucks were well-placed at 112-3 after 11 overs thanks to cameos from Rhys Nicholas (46), Josh Lincoln (35 from 14 balls) and Aadi Sharma (34). But they could not press home and collapsed to 164 all out in 19.2 overs, an under-par score on the small ground. 

Beds cruised home at 165-3 in 15.1 overs thanks to a spectacular 82 from 37 balls by Jamie Dunk, who hit six sixes and seven fours. 

The second game also appeared to be going Bedfordshire's way when Bucks slipped to 77-5 after choosing to bat first. But a superb stand of 107 in just 65 balls between Great Brickhill's Nicholas and Gerrards Cross captain Teddy Fleming turned the innings around. 

Nicholas made 62 off 48 balls with three sixes and three fours, but he was outshone by Fleming whose unbeaten 66 came off just 38 balls with six sixes and three fours.

Bucks reached 192-7 from their 20 overs. So many balls were lost that there were fears that there might not be enough spares to finish the game.

Once Dunk had been dismissed, the Beds reply fell away dramatically as pace-off bowling and some safe catching in the deep saw them collapse to 85 all out in 14.2 overs. Bucks skipper Conner Haddow produced outstanding figures of 3-6 in 3.2 overs.

Game One Scorecard - buckscricket.play-cricket.com/website/results/7314113

Game Two Scorecard - buckscricket.play-cricket.com/website/results/7314106

Bucks Men's next outing is their NV Play NCCA Trophy quarter-final against Berkshire at High Wycombe next Sunday (11am).