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Maximum Points for 2nd and 3rd teams, while 1sts Run Champions Close

Maximum Points for 2nd and 3rd teams, while 1sts Run Champions Close

JOHN BROWN4 Sep 2017 - 15:26
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Last day blues as Buckingham take title at Bletchington, the 2nds and 3rds win.

The final week of the season resulted in a mixed afternoon for Nondies 3 teams. The 1st team entertained top of the table Buckingham Town, knowing that relegation was already a certainty and little to play for other than pride. Buckingham, on the other hand, needed to win to secure the Division 2 title.
Nondies were invited to bat and there innings followed the pattern of most of the season. Several batsmen made starts and then failed to go on to make a big score. Rupert Kelley, 24, Joe Butler,30 and Arfan Ahmed,28, all perished when set. Maybe the distraction of the umpires phone constantly ringing paid a part in their downfall? Nondies final total of 154 was acheived in 39.1 overs with the spin of James Gear,4-32 and Ben Stafford, 4-32 doing most of the damage.
Ross Brown struck early in the Buckingham innings when he pinned O'Dell in front of his stumps and but for a couple of dropped catches Nondies might have got ahead of the game. However, opener Steve Brunning remained focused and his 55 enabled Buckingham to remain in control. However, Nondies bowlers did make life difficult for the visitors and they looked edgy when their 7th wicket fell on 149. However, a edge to the boundary saw them over the line and to a deserved league title. Ross Brown with 3-31 was the pick of the bowlers.
Saturday was a bitter-sweet day for the 2nd team. Surprisingly, our opponents, Great Tew, were unable to field a team and forfeited the points. This meant that if East Oxford failed to win at promotion chasing Twyford, then Nondies would be safe from relegation. Unfortunately, the news filtered through that they had narrowly beaten Twyford and so moved above Nondies into 8th place.
Meanwhile, the third team needed 5 points to finish eighth and above visitors Cropredy at Islip on Saturday. Skipper Jon Ingram said after the game, "we wanted to win the toss and bowl first, which didn't happen and by 10 overs we were 15-1 against a spinner who had taken 8-27 the week before. Some steady batting then acceleration from Sam, Simon, Jon and Saleem all contributed to our top total of the season - 154 - aided by the tail clinching the 4th of the bonus points required."
"When we bowled, Tariq took the first wicket and earned the 5th bonus point. He, Sanjid and Rashique did the rest with young Alex Dellar pleasingly taking 2 late wickets and a catch. The fielding backed up the bowling throughout." He also thanked Paul Taylor for coming to umpire and leaving his phone in the pavilion.
Joy and relief all round as Nondies won by 111 runs and finished 8th and clear of relegation after a tough season.
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