There were positive feelings in the Buckingham camp before the game, but it was not to be their day.

Their opponents were back in Division 2 following relegation in 2007. Farnham won the toss and elected to bowl. Things started badly for Buckingham as Leigh Tomlinson fell early for five runs.

Dan Harris came in and found the boundary and skipper Rob Large twice pulled overseas bowler Krishmar Santokie for six. From 11 overs the score was 60-1 when Harris was caught behind for 13.

Unfortunately the wicket triggered a collapse as the next four batsmen all failed to reach double figures with only Rob Large showing any form. At lunch the score stood at 121-6 with Large not out 67.

After lunch Large finally found a batting partner in Greg Pearson as they set about tackling the remaining 30 overs of the innings. Although the rate was slow, runs kept coming with Large bringing up his century from 130 balls.

Between them Large and Pearson added 119 for the seventh wicket bringing the score to 240-6 from 54 overs. Pearson reached 50 from 94 balls before Large fell for 130 off 156 balls and Pearson went three overs later.

The final two wickets added only three runs to the total of 251 all out from 58.5 overs, leaving Farnham 252 to win in 51 overs, Santokie finishing with six wickets.

In reply Dewayne Bowden took two wickets as the score moved to 33-2 from seven overs.

Opener Dan Simpson looked set for a big score though as he picked off the runs around the field and formed a 50-run partnership for the third wicket before Khan was caught at slip off Pearson in the penultimate over before tea. The score was 83-3 from 17 overs and evenly poised for a good final session.

After tea Buckingham failed to press home any advantage they had as Simpson moved to 50 and captain Ollie Clayson scored fluently. James Gear did manage to remove Simpson for 72 but new batsman Santokie took the attack to the bowlers.

Despite being dropped twice he went for his shots and hit 53 from 43 balls with two fours and five sixes. Gear had Santokie caught late on, but Clayson (57 not out) saw the home side through to a five-wicket victory with 20 balls to spare.

Buckingham - Large st Sanford b Naseri 130, L. Tomlinson b Amin 5, Harris c Sanford b Boparai 13, Bowden c Boparai b Naseri 7, Cater c Clayson b Santokie 5, Parker lbw b Santokie 2, J. Tomlinson b Santokie 0, Pearson b Santokie 50, Gear b Santokie 9, Churms c Pulsford b Santokie 0, Ell not out 1.Extras 29, 58.5 overs. Total 251 all out.
Bowling - Santokie 22.5-4-83-6; Amin 7-1-20-1; Boparai 5-0-36-1; Naseri 16-0-59-2; Khan 8-1-40-0.

Farnham - Syddall lbw b Bowden 0, Simpson c L. Tomlinson b Gear 72, Naseri c Cater b Bowden 12, Khan c Large b Pearson 13, Clayson not out 57, Santokie c Ell b Gear 53, Sanford not out 4. Extras 42. Total 253-5.
Bowling - Bowden 12-2-40-2; Churms 5-0-46-0; Pearson 7-1-42-1; Ell 7-0-37-0; Gear 11.4-0-61-2; Harris 5-1-13-0.

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