CHRIS Thomas made an assured 83 in his first match as Beaconsfield captain but saw his side lose by one wicket at Chesham in a Bucks Cup group game on Saturday.

Thomas, who has taken over from Sam Musk, led the way as Beaconsfield reached 207-9 from their 45 overs.

He became the first wicket in a hat-trick for the Chesham leg-spinner Andy Goddard, but Jason Harrison’s 35 plus a late flurry from David Heavyside (21) took the total to 207-9.

With Beaconsfield seamer Jon Mahood backing up his batters with devastating figures of 6-24, the match should have only gone one way.

But Chesham’s 15-year-old batsman Mark Etteem had other ideas and his 91 proved to be the telling contribution in the match.

Even with his runs they still needed 11 off the last three balls, but a legside wide that went to the boundary changed the dynamic and an edged boundary off the last ball settled it.