THREE late wickets put Buckinghamshire firmly in the driving seat on the first day of the opening Minor Counties Championship fixture of the season with Northumberland at Benwell Hill yesterday.
Asked to bat first, the visitors compiled an impressive 388-8 off 90 overs, while in reply North had reached 91-3 by the close of play.
Opening batsmen Fahim Quresi and Ricky Hopwood gave their side an excellent start despite some testing new ball bowling from Craig Smith and Matt Muchall.
Both batsmen enjoyed an escape as Marc Symington bowled Quresi off a no ball while Hopwood was dropped by Alan Worthy off a skier.
North made a long-awaited breakthrough in the 29th over when Andy Smith on his championship debut bowled Hopwood for a 95-ball 51 which included seven fours to make it 109-1.
The afternoon session belonged to North as they hit back strongly to claim five wickets for 128 runs as spinner Tom Cant captured four victims in a 14 over spell.
Craig Smith had Quresi caught behind for 43 before Cant accounted for skipper John Harrison who had made 45.
Paul Sawyer struck six fours and one six in his 52 before he fell to Cant, who also got rid of Paul Atkins (21) and Mark Hardinges (0).
However, Sam Cherry hit an explosive unbeaten 92 off only 50 balls which included six sixes and nine fours to help his side clinch maximum batting points.
Cant eventually finished with 5-100 off 21 overs before Worthy and Symington led the home side’s fightback.
The experienced pair forged a first-wicket stand of 91 runs without any great difficulty before Symington was caught behind by Andy Wynd off Hardinges for 26.
Bucks struck a further double blow without any further addition to the score when Cherry had Worthy caught by Atkins for 35 and night-watchman Cant was caught behind for a duck.
Buckinghamshire
F Quresi c Nicholson b C Smith 43, Hopwood b A Smith 51, J Harrison c Worthy b Cant 45, P R Sawyer b Cant 52, M Hardinges c Worthy b Cant 0, P D Atkins b Cant 21, M Watson c Nicholson b Cant 29, S Cherry not out 92, A Wynd run out 1, G Harper not out 0.
388-8 off 90 overs
Extras: 54.
Fall: 1-109; 2-150; 3-229; 4-231; 5-256; 6-264; 7-340; 8-375.
Bowling: C Smith 15-2-42-1; Muchall 16-3-58-0; Symington 11-1-39-0; A smith 7-1-34-1; Scott 2-0-15-0; Cant 21-1-100-5; Wilkinson 18-0-79-0.
Northumberland
A Worthy c Atkin b Cherry 35, M Symington c Wynd b Hardinges 26, T Cant c Wynd b Hardinges 0, A D Cragg not out 0.
91-3 off 21.5 overs.
Extras: 30.
Fall of wickets: 1-91, 2-91, 3-91.
Bowling: Hardinges 10.5-4-24-2; Harper 6-1-27-0; Sawyer 2-0-15-0; Stanway 2-0-4-0; Cherry 1-1-0-1.
Bonus points to date: Northumberland 3 Buckinghamshire 5.
