It is not often that a game of cricket leaves me speechless but the performance of Bletchley Town CC U’14 side on Sunday 18 July was one such case. Eleven players gave their all in the Bucks County Cup final at Stowe School against a powerful Chesham side that was packed full of county players.

Skipper Matt Shepherd lost the toss and Bletchley were asked to bat in cloudy overcast conditions. This was a brave decision by the opposition skipper as the groundsman had produced a belter of a pitch and the outfield was like grease lightening. Shepherd and Mahendran opened the batting for Bletchley and got their side off to a great start. Matt especially was timing the ball with expertise, as he has done throughout the season and perhaps it was the turning point of the entire game when Burden, fielding at cover, clung on to a fantastic catch just millimetres from the ground. Matt’s reputation is obviously well known in the far flung south of the county because to a man the Chesham side celebrated his wicket with much enthusiasm.

It was at this point that Chesham really turned up the pressure with their two spinners Rehman and Gibbins. Leg spinner Rehman removed Mahendran with a beautiful delivery that went the other way and Bletchley suddenly found themselves with two new batsmen, Talbot and Houpe, at the crease. The eight overs of spin went for only twenty-six runs. It was a fine exhibition of slow bowling. But to their credit Bletchley refused to lie down and die. Copeland was promoted up the order when Ben Talbot was dismissed and together with Houpe they upped the scoring rate. Copeland’s running between the wickets was superb and countless times he risked his own wicket going for almost impossible runs. Houpe was eventually bowled by Bugg for twenty-five and Bletchley finished on 111-4 from their twenty overs.

Bletchley took the field and the large crowd present then witnessed their best performance of the entire season. Michael Houpe and the ever reliable Jamie Galvin opened bowling and from ball one all eleven players were obviously up for it. To a man they chased every ball and put their bodies on the line to try and stop every possible run. Mahendran was excellent sweeping and both Waite and Forrest in the deep stopped everything that came near them. Ben Parker fielding close in just behind square was faultless. He should be proud of the way he performed not only in this game but throughout the entire season.

At the start of ninth over Chesham were cruising on forty-two without loss. Houpe, Galvin and Mahendran had bowled well but the two Chesham openers looked in little trouble. Martin Jones had replaced Houpe from the school end and in his second over Bugg launched him over mid wicket for a huge six. But still Bletchley continued to fight. Jones suddenly relaxed and found his rhythm. He had Bugg caught behind by Shepherd and then removed Eteen, a heavy run scorer at both club and county with a vicious ball that seamed in and bowled him.  Bletchley now had the bit between their teeth and soon Jones removed the Chesham three and four and the opposition were wobbling at 69-4. Jones took four wickets in a fourteen ball spell that went for just five runs.

Galvin came back to replace Jones and his first over went for only two runs. It was gripping stuff! Unfortunately Copeland struggled a little with his line and Lee Tyrrell batting at five for Chesham suddenly counter attacked. Chesham reached eighty-three when Burden went for a quick second run to Mahendran on the boundary. Shepherd took the ball cleanly and in a flash removed the bails just as Burden dropped his bat. The umpire raised his finger as Bletchley continued to fight. Gibbins joined Tyrrell at the crease and under incredible pressure they steered Chesham to 110-5 as Michael Houpe started the last over. But still Bletchley refused to lie down and die as Houpe’s first delivery cleaned up the impressive Tyrrell as he looked to win the game with a huge hit over mid wicket.

Sadly for Bletchley Houpe’s next delivery was a wide and then Owen hit a single to win the final. Chesham won with just four balls remaining of a match played in great spirit by both teams.  Bletchley Town may not have had a side bulging with county players but what they did have was a great spirit that has been evident since the first game of the season at Cublington.

Bletchley Town

M Shepherd            ct Burden            b Gibbins  29

S Mahendran            lbw                   b Rehman  17

B Talbot            ct Burden            b Marote    8

M Houpe                                  b Bugg       25

E Copleand            not out                               13

J Waite                        not out                                1

Extras 18

Total 111-4

M Jones  J Linthwaite  B Parker  K Forrest & J Galvin did not bat

Burden 4-0-18-0

Marote 3-0-25-1

Rehman 4-0-15-1

Gibbins 4-1-11-1

Bugg 3-0-14-1

Hughes-D’aeth 2-0-21-0

Chesham

H Bugg                        ct Shepherd            b Jones              25

M Eteen                                   b Jones              31

J White                        ct Houpe  b Jones                2

D Hughes – D’aeth   lbw                 b Jones                1

L Tyrrell                                               b Houpe  25

J Burden            run out                                        6

J Gibbins            not out                                        7

F Owen              not out                                        1

Extras 14

Total 112-6

Houpe  3.2-0-18-1

Galvin  4-0-23-0

Mahendran 4-0-24-0

Jones  4-0-21-4