A young and athletic Buccaneers side arrived bright eyed and bushy tailed at the fine Hurlingham ground. A thirty minute delay ensued as the “home” umpire and scorer were not prepared to officiate the game as the Buccaneers failed to turn up with an umpire. It turns out revenge is indeed a dish best served cold.
When play eventually got underway, the Buccaneers were put out to graze. The “Oval-induced” hungover Will Metcalfe (10-3-40-0) and debutant James Rutt (10-1-38-0) opening the bowling tightly. The introduction of Charlie Leefe (12-0-64-3) with his excellent leg spin saw the breakthrough, via an excellent catch by father Simon. The father and son show continued as Simon got a wicket with the last ball before lunch to leave the home side on 107-2 after 27 overs. The nagging line and length of Nav Kokri (4-0-16-1) got an early post lunch wicket which brought to the crease former Kent and England batsman, Ed Smith. A rather circumspect 22 from 36 balls was ended when Charlie Leefe drew him into an ugly hack and was caught on the boundary! Hurlingham declared on 249-5 off 52 overs.
The Buccaneers top order was blown away by the excellent opening spell from McAlister (11-2-28-3) and the bandanna wearing Jack Brooks lookalike Cattermull (12-4-24-2) Umpire Sam Glass got into the action early on with the wicket of Simon Leefe and Ollie Metcalfe being given out LBW to the left arm over McAlister. Having been reduced down to 35-4 , gritty resistance came in the form of debutant Richard Hobbs (21) and power packed Will Metcalfe (32). Umpire Glass was brought on at the other end and captured a further 3 sharp LBW decisions to prompt a slightly faltering chase. Nav Kokri (31) tried to steer the tail to victory and at 127-6 entering the final 20 overs, the remaining 120 looked possible. However a low order collapse left the last wicket pair needing 100 runs. Some big hitting for our final debutant Oliver Svhelik (15 from 10) propelled us to 166 when the rain came down with 10 over remaining.
Having burgled a draw, some members of the team were intent on recapturing the winning formula and after some fine drinks at Hurlingham, the Fulham Road once again bore the brunt of thirsty Buccaneers. The last wicket fell at 3:30am with Paul Hobson pulling up stumps after another long post match knock. A superb day out at one of the most imperious grounds and all played in great spirits.
Innings of Hurlingham
S Razvi c S Leefe b C Leefe 19
R Cripps b C Leefe 101
F Lyon b S Leefe 22
S Chapman c Cunynghame b N Kokri 26
E Smith c E Cunynghame b C Leefe 22
C Stewart-Liberty not out 17
M McAllister not out 19
Extras 23
Total 249 for 5 dec
FOW 1-75(1), 2-107(3), 3-164(4), 4-198(5), 5-224(2)
W Metcalfe 10-3-40-0
J Rutt 10-1-38-0
R Hobson 10-1-36-0
C Leefe 12-0-64-3
N Kokri 4-0-16-1
S Leefe 1-0-7-1
O Svehlik 3-0-29-0
R Hobbs 2-0-7-0
Innings of Buccaneers
S Leefe lbw McAllister 7
S Bose b Cattermull 1
P Hobson c R Jenkins b Kenwood 9
O Metcalfe lbw McAllister 7
R Hobbs lbw Kenwood 21
W Metcalfe lbw Cattermull 32
N Kokri c Jenkins b McAllister 31
E Cunynghame c E Smith b Lyon 13
J Rutt lbw Chapman 2
C Leefe not out 1
O Svehlik not out 15
Extras 27
Total 166 for 9 – abandoned (rain)
FOW 1-10(1), 2-10(2), 3-30(4), 4-35(3), 5-61(5), 6-109(6), 7-126(8), 8-138(9), 9-142(7)
M McAllister 11-2-28-3
M Cattermull 12-4-24-2
F Lyon 11-2-43-1
A Kenwood 7-0-46-2
S Chapman 3-1-12-1