Buckinghamshire 307-8, Cornwall 308-1

CORNWALL'S hopes of making progress to the knock out stages of the MCCA Trophy are still alive after a sensational victory against Buckinghamshire at Marlow on Sunday.

The reigning Minor County champions were defeated by nine wickets thanks to a superb, record breaking partnership between the Cornwall openers Matt Robins and David Roberts.

After being set a daunting 308 in 50 overs the pair put on a memorable 287 for the first wicket before Robins fell for 143, that included 21 fours and a six off 122 balls.

Roberts hit his second century in the competition this year, sandwiched by a first ball duck. He ended on 130 not out with 15 fours and a six off 121 balls. Both batsmen exceeded the previous highest Cornish individual score in the competition of 121 not out, by Ed Nicolson at Taunton in 1998.

Partnership

The stand almost doubled the previous county best of 147 set last year by Gary Thomas and Keith Parsons at Truro against Herefordshire, and it was just 15 short of the all time competition highest. Only once has there been a bigger stand in Cornish history when Roy Harris and Jimmy Murphy put on 329 at Camborne in 1954, which remains the highest third wicket Minor Counties Championship partnership.

Incredibly, Sunday's target was reached with over eight overs to spare. It boosted Cornwall's net run rate, should it come into play at the end of the group stage. With Devon beating Wales at Exeter all eyes will be on Devon's visit to Trowbridge this weekend when Cornwall have a bye. The outcome will determine whether a win for Cornwall against Wales at St Austell a week on Sunday will be enough for qualification or whether run rate will come into the equation.

Skipper Tom Sharp paid tribute to Robins and Roberts. He said: "They both hit it to every part of the field and when they're in that sort of form they're very hard to bowl at, especially on a ground that's not all that big and with a quick outfield. "

Injury

However, it's a fair bet that the compliments weren't flowing around the Cornish dressing room at half-time, having conceded their second highest total ever in the competition.

The home side were put in, on a cloudy morning, but things soon went against the Duchy. In his third over opening bowler Alex Smeeth pulled up with a hamstring injury and left the field. Sam Hockin and Chris Hunkin both took wickets but that only left the way for Matthew Eyles (139) and Paul Sawyer (96) to put on 166 for the third wicket. Towards the end of the innings late wickets fell, including former Gloucestershire and Essex all rounder Mark Hardinges. He was bowled by Kelvin Snell for 16 and was one of three wickets for the Paul all rounder.

Bucks reached 307 for eight in their 50 overs and who would have thought at the time it was a target that was to prove to be woefully short?