Bucks maintained their fantastic form in the Unicorns Counties Championship Eastern Division by completing an eight-wicket success against Bedfordshire on Tuesday.

Jason Harrison’s team had chased down imperious targets to win their opening two matches of the season and they did so again in their latest three day encounter having been outplayed for the majority of the contest.

Having been set a victory target of 352 on the final day, Tring Park batsman Shelvin Gumbs came to the fore, compiling a superb 132 not out off 164 balls to see Bucks home with ten overs to spare at Burnham.

The foundations had been well and truly laid by openers Shaan Khan (75) and Charlie MacDonnell (88), who shared a stand of 117 for the first wicket.

Gumbs, whose innings contained 18 boundaries, knocked off the winning runs alongside Michael Payne as the number four finished unbeaten on 34.

Earlier in the contest Bucks had been left playing catch up after mustering only 163 all out – in which Jason Rance top scored with 42 – in reply to Bedfordshire’s 284 after the batted first having won the toss.

With a solid 121-run lead after the first innings, the hosts reached 230-7 in just under 50 overs before they decided to declare just before the close of play on the second day’s play.

Having safely negotiated what might have been a dangerous six over period on Monday evening, the Bucks openers pushed on to reach lunch at 74-0 on the final day before Gumbs and MacDonell head back to the pavilion for tea with the score at 225-1.

The winning line was crossed with ten overs to spare, leaving Bedfordshire to rue the timing of their declaration.

Bucks are now joint top of the table alongside Cumberland as they reach the half-way stage of the Championship.

Their remaining games are against Northumberland at Jesmond (July 19-21), against Lincolnshire at Tring Park (August 2-4) and against Staffordshire at Knypersley (August 16-18).