After a couple of years of unfortunate wash outs the Buccaneers returned to the idyllic Follie’s Farm for a 40 over slug fest.
Follie’s Farm were sent in to bat on a scorcher of a mid-May Sunday. Rob Rydon and Ilija Krunic opened up the bowling with style. Rydon holding tight one end while Krunic took two wickets at the other leaving Follie’s 9 for 2 wickets after four overs.
A third wicket fell five overs later which brought together the strong batting partnership of Henry Grant (Follie’s skipper on the day) and Guy Gibson. They worked the ball well and put on a 70 run partnership in the middle of the Follie’s innings. Grant went onto make a very well batted century before falling for Nelson (111) to an Angus Berry delivery, caught Kalidasan sharply in the deep midfield. At the end of the allotted 40 overs Follies farm posted 241 runs.
A delightful cheeseburger and rosé tea was taken before Berry and Kalidasan took to the field to open up the Buccaneers innings.
Both Berry and Kalidasan took the time to get their eyes in before then started to cart the ball around to all corners of the ground, making use of the fast dry outfield as well as a few sixes for good measure. A fantastic opening partnership of 148 before Eswar fell to a remarkable single handed catch and fall from the leaping Andy Salmon of the opposition, for a good 61 runs scored. Michael Harms came in for quick thrash in front of his on-looking parents, then Krunic number 2 came to the crease. Berry was the dependable and impressive constant in the middle for the Buccaneers, staying out there for 37 overs in the heat, hitting his famous glorious cover drives, straight drives and violent swashes through mid-wicket and beyond. He eventually ran himself out gallantly chasing every last run to try to chase down the required 242. He walked off the pitch to a jubilant standing ovation, respecting and celebrating the most wonderful century (116 total scored) his first for the Buccaneers and first for over a decade.
Rydon and Metcalfe had the task at the death of around 11 an over, and despite some lovely shots and resulting boundaries, the Buccaneers ended up 9 short in what was a thriller of a match and a stunner of a day.
Innings of Follies Farm
T Palmer ct ? b Rydon 22
A Salmon ct ? b Krunic 0
J Parsons ct ? b Krunic 0
H Grant ct Kalidasan b Berry 111
G Gibson ct and b Ward 29
D Bell ct ? b Berry 19
J Black ct and b Berry 19
F Gibson b Hobbs 16
A Black not out 9
D Rowland not out 5
Extras 13
Total: 241 for 8 (40 overs)
Bowling
R Rydon 8-3-35-1
I Krunic 8-1-21-2
L Ward 6-1-41-1
A Berry 5-0-30-2
R Hobbs 6-0-44-2
Innings of Buccaneers
A Berry run out 116
E Kalidasan ct Samon b Grant 61
M Harms ct ? b Rowland 19
M Krunic run out 4
L Ward ct? B Bell 0
J Milne run out 0
R Rydon not out 13
W Metcalfe not out 6
Extras 13
Total: 232-6 (40 overs)
Bowling
D Rowland 8-1-26-1
A Travis 8-1-46-0
F Gibson 4-0-24-0
A Black 3-0-11-0
T Palmer 2-0-16-1
O Bell 7-0-51-1
H Grant 8-0-45-1