A SUPERB unbeaten 95 from skipper Paul Atkins could not prevent Bucks from suffering an agonising 12-run defeat in their Minor Counties Championship Eastern Division game at Bishops Stortford on Tuesday.

Set 230 for victory in a closely fought match, Bucks seemed down and out at 188 for nine.

But Atkins, who was making his second half-century of the match, found a useful partner in Wolverton seamer Stuart Brandom.

Together the pair added 30 for the last wicket until Brandom was adjudged lbw - not the first controversial decision of the match - to leave Bucks still seeking their first win of the campaign.

For Bucks, the game was dominated by two players - Atkins and leg-spinner Andy Clarke, who picked a match haul of eleven for 163.

Clarke captured five for 46 in the first innings as Hertfordshire were bowled out for 201.

Bucks seemed set for a healthy first innings lead after fifties from Russell Lane and Atkins took them to 196 for three. But the length of the tail was exposed as the last seven wickets fell for 38 runs.

Bucks again appeared to have the upper hand, with Herts struggling at 203 for eight in the second innings. But a ninth-wicket stand of 58 helped them reach 262 all out.

This proved just too much for Bucks to chase, despite Atkins' heroics.

Bucks play Norfolk at their new Manor Park ground, Norwich, in a three-day championship game starting this Sunday (July 29).