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Hemp finds power

Warwicks (249-7) bt Bucks (136) by 113 runs

Warwickshire, who chose to bat on a firm pitch, had some uneasy moments on their way to setting a solid if not overwhelming target which still proved well beyond Buckinghamshire.

David Hemp's unbeaten 110 for the victors earned him the man-of-the-match award and this was well deserved, for when he came in, at 36 for one, Buckinghamshire's bowlers were causing problems.

In particular, James Bovill, formerly of Hampshire, and his new-ball partner Simon Stanway maintained an excellent length and line throughout and passed the bats of Nick Knight and Neil Smith with regularity.

Later, Andy Clarke, the former Sussex and Derbyshire leg-spinner, bowled cleverly, dismissing Knight, who was looking dangerous, via a catch at mid-off and shortly afterwards having Anurag Singh caught off bat and pad at silly point.

Hemp, having reached 50 off 74 balls, accelerated thereafter, his hundred coming off only 27 more. In all, he faced 105 balls, hitting 11 fours and three sixes, mainly from well-timed drives and powerful hits to leg.

An early three-wicket burst from Ed Giddins, plus one from Tim Munton, reduced the home side to 31 for four but then former Somerset wicketkeeper Neil Burns and Kelvin Locke resisted bravely.

After Burns had given a fierce return catch and Locke had miscued to mid-off, the innings declined rapidly, though Tim Scriven made a defiant 33 and Paul Woodroffe slogged three successive fours off Dougie Brown.