BUCKS comfortably held on for a draw after being outplayed on the first two days of their Unicorns Counties Championship Eastern Division match against Bedfordshire at Flitwick.

Set a formidable 380 runs to win in a minimum of 90 overs,

Bucks

had progressed to 132 without loss when rain ended play at the tea interval.

The game started well for Bucks who, after losing the toss, reduced the hosts to 166-7 before the Bedfordshire tail wagged to lift them to 266 all out. Seamer AJ Woodland was the most successful bowler with 4-47.

The visitors were handicapped when Tring Park seamer Mo Choudhry suffered a shin injury after bowling five overs on his Championship debut and could take no further part in the match.

Woodland then top-scored with a patient 44 in Bucks' disappointing first innings reply of 159 all out - Mahmud Hasan taking 5-24.

Bedfordshire quickly built on their first-innings lead of 107 thanks to a maiden Championship century from Patrick Harrington (129), who shared a second-wicket stand of 188 with opener Fayaz Homyoon (74).

The hosts declared nine overs into the final day on 272-6, with Michael Payne taking 5-62. This left Bucks a target of 380.

Openers Woodland and Masoor Khan batted unscathed for 63 overs, putting on 132 before the match was called off.

Woodland, who hit his first ball for four, did not hit another boundary in his 188-ball innings. Khan batted more fluently and was 82 not out at the end

Bucks' next Championship match is against Norfolk at Manor Park, Norwich, starting this Sunday.