The 5ths went into their final game 2nd from bottom against Buckingham 3’s who were 2nd from top and both needing a win for different reasons.
The game started with a Churchillian like "play for pride boys" and "thanks to John & Sandy Pallett and Proccy for their sterling efforts this season" speech by skipper Richard Lambden. Having lost the toss and been put into bat he and Richard Wetherill put on 41 for the 1st wicket, our 2nd highest of the season. However, thereafter wickets tumbled, the majority of the damage having been done by skipper Coates’ (5 for 43) away swingers and 12 year old spinner Albert Johnson (2 for 23), and we were left dangling at 78 for 9 in the 28th over staring certain relegation in the face. This brought together senior Youth coaches Mark Austin and John Pallett. Possibly out of sympathy or lack of skilled coaching, the visitors proceeded to drop catches, albeit sharp ones, and misfield. Pallett’s 1st run of the innings brought about the 1st batting point. In desperation Buckingham tried various bowling changes which eventually succeeded with Austin out for 46 in the 43rd with 138 on the board and something for the bowlers to defend. Pallett finshed on 15 NO.
Buckingham started steadily, keeping the scoreboard ticking over at around 3 an over and at 60 for 1 in the 19th over there was only one winner. However, Proccy, who was extremely unlucky throughout narrowly missing the edge of the bat on several occasions, and Luke Wetherill, had other ideas. Both took 2 wickets each (all bowled) and, together with a suicidal run out plus another one of the skippers speeches along the lines of "if we get a couple of wickets then the panic will set in", left Buckingham at 79 for 6 in the 24th and we sniffed a chance. Jack Lambden’s spin replaced Luke and a had an immediate impact with skipper Coates holing out to Joe Wetherill in his first over. Another wicket for Proccy, a catch at slip for batting hero Austin off Jack’s bowling and another run out ended the innings and an unlikely 20 run victory moving us up to 3rd from bottom. Buckingham missed out on promotion too. Proccy finished with figures of 9-2-26-3, Luke 6-1-21-2, and Jack 4-0-23-2.