UNDERDOGS Marlow Park came within 22 runs of a Bucks Cup upset when they travelled the short distance to neighbouring Marlow last Sunday.

Park, who play in Division 2B of the Thames Valley League made their Home Counties League rivals battle all the way for their place in the semi-finals of the inaugural contest.

It was the first time in almost a decade that the two sides, whose grounds are within a few hundred yards of each other, have met in a competitive clash.

And higher league Marlow didn't have it all their own way.

Batting first, they had their opener Slater removed for just seven, Park's Munsha making the early breakthrough.

But Marlow's other opener, Simon Trotter, was harder to shift.

He proved one of the mainstays of the innings, reaching an unbeaten 84.

Along the way he was joined by all-rounder Richard Norman who knocked out a century to produce the innings of the day.

Marlow Park were treated to severe punishment as Norman began to dispatch the ball to all parts of the Pound Lane pitch.

Having completed a breathtaking century in just 64 balls, Norman finally fell to the persistent Fowlston.

Dickenson took up the charge knocking a quick-fire 27 and by the end of their 45 overs, Marlow had posted an impressive 274 for four with Trotter carrying his bat for 84 in 109 balls.

Facing such a big total Marlow Park might have crumbled but opener Barns shook off the loss of his first three hitting partners, for less than 30 runs between them, to put in some impressive resistance.

His knock of 73 kept Park in the game and when he was joined by Bruce, who produced a useful 33, Park were really giving Marlow a game.

When Bruce went, Munsha joined the battle and produced exactly the same score as his predecessor to get their rivals worried.

The game was dramatically poised as Trotter joined the Marlow attack and immediately removed the stubborn Barns in his first over.

That signalled the end of the Park resistance and when Stone was brought back to rout the lower order, the Park were finally dismissed 22 runs short of victory.

Scorecard: See below