THE Buckinghamshire Over 60s team travelled to Gravesend to play Kent looking to end a losing run and climb up the table.

Bucks batted first and were affected by light rain as they looked to set Kent a formidable target.

However, only captain John Rolfe (37) and a great innings from Denzil Owen (55) got to grips with the conditions and the visitors were all out for 173 runs.

As the conditions improved, Kent were never really troubled in reaching the winning target and made 177-2 off 37.3 overs.

Owen took the only two wickets to fall, finishing with remarkable figures of 2-10 from nine overs, which included five maidens.

To add to their woes, Rolfe dislocated a finger and spent the evening at a local hospital.

The Bucks second team were without a match so it was left to the third side to look to win when they took on second placed Essex 3s at the Bledlow Village ground.

After a thrashing against Sussex 3s the week before, this looked a very difficult game against a team who seem to score runs for fun. Added to this, Essex won the toss and elected to bat.

However, Larry Warr brought off a quick-witted stumping to remove their star batsman and captain for just four runs and hopes began to rise.

Excellent bowling from Alan Smith (2-28) and Latif Khan of Slough Cricket Club reduced Essex to 25-4.

Ged Holmes (3-26) then came on and got a wicket with his second ball, plus two more in his spell. He and Mahmood Aktar (Stoke Green, 2-26) further reduced the hosts to 73-8.

Essex were grateful to Ayde (52*) and number 10 Harborne (24) for lifting them to a respectable 140-9 off 45 overs.

Bucks did not get off to the best of starts and were reduced to 44-3. However, David Lander, playing in his second match, was joined by George Nelson and they took the score to 90 before Lander was run-out.

Holmes then fell cheaply and Bucks nail were being bitten as Warr joined Nelson.

Two fours in an over for Nelson followed by a huge six by Warr steadied the nerves and the visitors reached victory with three overs to spare.

Mark Wheeler finished with 3-16 for Essex but it was a great victory for Bucks 3s in their first season in competition.

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