A SUPERLATIVE all round performance by Mattie McKiernan spearheaded Cumberland to a convincing victory by nine wickets over Bucks at High Wycombe.

The 22-year-old leg spinner took 12 match wickets for 184 from 62.1 overs, claimed a run out assist and scored 70 from 85 balls in a stunning display that will enhance his dreams of earning a full-time county contract and following Cumberland's Liam Livingstone and Richard Gleeson into the first-class game.

For once Toby Bulcock was overshadowed, but he still picked up five match wickets in a brilliant spin partnership that saw Cumberland mark captain Gary Pratt's 100th Cumberland game in style.

Will Hale made a welcome return to batting form with a majestic unbeaten hundred as Cumberland reached their victory target of 248 by 4.32pm on the third day of this Unicorns Championship Eastern Division match.

Hale was ably supported by Josh Tolley (58) in an impressive opening stand of 102 and then Wigton pro Michael Slack came in to score his second half century of the game in an unbroken stand of 146 to see his side home.

Bucks captain Michael Payne was agonizingly run out for 99 going for a second run as his side posted 328 in a first innings dominated by McKiernan's 7 for 114 on what looked a superb batting track.

Slack (59), Pratt (76), McKiernan and Will Purser (47) helped Cumberland finish 26 behind on first innings after struggling at 48 for 3.

Slack and Pratt put on 92 for the fourth wicket in 26 overs and McKiernan and Purser posted 80 for the eighth wicket in only 11 overs. Bucks collapsed from 153 for 2 to 221 all out, losing their last eight wickets for 68 in their second innings as McKiernan and Bulcock weaved their magic.

Composed batting by Hale, Tolley and Slack saw the defending champions to their first Championship win of the season.

Result: Bucks 328 (MJ Payne 99, PJL Castleden 67, GA Russell 54, MH McKiernan 7-114) and 221 (S Gumbs 64, MH McKiernan 5-70, T Bulcock 4-101); Cumberland 302 (GJ Pratt 76, MH McKiernan 70, MP Slack 59, WRJ Purser 47) and 248 for 1 (WDC Hale 118no, JR Tolley 58, MP Slack 68no) Cumberland (23pts) defeated Bucks (8pts) by 9 wickets.