Rain thwarts Suffolk’s chances

ANY chance of Suffolk forcing victory in their opening National Counties Eastern Division One fixture of the season were washed away.

Suffolk had set Buckinghamshire 388 to win off a minimum of 87 overs on the third and final day of their Championship match at Tring Park CC.

The hosts had advanced to 109 for 1 off 30.4 overs and the match was perfectly poised when the heavens opened at 2.36pm with 57 overs remaining.

By the time play resumed there was little prospect of either side winning, and stumps were drawn after Bucks opener Cameron Hemp completed his century with the total 150 for 1 from 38 overs just after the start of the final hour’s play.

Suffolk, who took 11 points from the match compared to their opponents’ eight, had the better of the exchanges after winning the toss and choosing to bat first.

The visitors were bowled out for 297 in their first innings built around a fourth-wicket stand of 88 between George Rhodes and Alex Oxley.

Rhodes struck 87 off 138 balls received with 13 fours and Oxley was last man out for 92 (12 fours and one six) compiled from three fewer deliveries.

After closing day one on 36 for 3, Bucks had advanced to 85 for 4 on day two when Rhodes, fielding at short mid on, deflected a drive onto the stumps to run out non-striker Vansh Jani for 42.

Bucks were subsequently dismissed for just 137, handing Suffolk a lead of 160, as Tom Harper claimed figures of 10.4-2-27-4. Harper, who had never previously taken a Championship wicket, is pictured bowling above.

Although a total of 33 overs were lost to bad light and rain, Suffolk reached 136 for 3 by the close to extend their lead to 296 with seven wickets in hand.

A further 91 runs were added on the third morning for the loss of four wickets in just 12.2 overs, Darren Ironside top-scoring with 88, before the declaration came.

Ironside said: “It was pretty frustrating. I felt we played two really good days of cricket and set the game up nicely for today, but unfortunately the weather meant no result was possible.”

Scorecard

Tags: Alex Oxley, Buckinghamshire, Darren Ironside, George Rhodes, NCCA Championship, Tom Harper, Tring Park CC

Categorised in: Suffolk CCC