Wokingham bowler Tom Hampton led Buckinghamshire to a surprise win over Berkshire in their final Group Three game in the NCCA Trophy at Chesham last Sunday.
It was his side’s first win in the competition this season and Berks’ first defeat.
But despite their four-run loss, Berks still finish top of their group, earning them home advantage in the quarter-finals.
Skipper Hampton was the Bucks hero. He took a competition-best six for 53, including the important last wicket of his opposite number, Dan Lincoln, off the fifth ball of the final over.
In a tense finish, Berks were dismissed for 249 as they replied to the host county’s 253 all out.
Alexei Kervezee top-scored for Bucks with a fluent 66 and was involved in a stand of 103 for the fifth wicket with George Harvey (36).
The pick of the Berks bowlers was Wokingham’s Andy Rishton with 4-44, while Wargrave seamer Tommy Sturgess took 3-55.
Wargrave batter Rhys Lewis (54) and Henley’s Johnny Connell (45) got Berks’ reply off to a sound start with an opening partnership of 73 in 13.2 overs.
There were useful contributions from Wargrave’s Euan Woods with 18, Henley duo Archie Carter (31) and Charlie Dunnett (20) and Rishton (20), and Berks looked set for victory at 248-8 going into the final over, having scored 35 in the previous four.
The first ball saw Hampton dismiss Sturgess for 12, but just one run came off the next three deliveries.
Lincoln, on 26, went looking for the winning boundary, only to find the hands of Henley wicketkeeper Ross Richardson, giving Hampton his sixth wicket of the game and Berks were all out for 249.
They now host Dorset, runners-up in Group 4, in the quarter-finals this Sunday.
