Follies Farm vs Buccaneers CC – Sunday 4 th September 2022
Buccs 184-8 (40 overs). Follies Farm 186-6. Follies Farm win by 4 wickets
A warm welcome was received once again a the picturesque Follies Farm. The Buccs were put into bat by Follies’ skipper Henry Grant. Having not batted thus far all season skipper Hobbs bravely faced the first ball alongside Tom ‘The Wall’ Fletcher. The first over went for a healthy six runs, however none scored from the Hobbs bat, all wides. After standing steadfast The Wall was the first victim falling for six runs and there the top order collapse started. Hobbs fell for nine in the next over, quickly followed by Berry and Mann leaving the Buccs on 33 for 4. Stephen Moules entered the crease and immediately hit form with his trademark leg-side pick ups and straight drives. Metcalfe and Leech couldn’t give much support as they fell for five and nine respectively. It was the wagging tail (surely should have been batting higher up? Ed.) of Ollie Mann (24) and Rob Rydon (23) that supported Moules and added excellent shots and innings of their own. Ollie also hit probably the shot of the match with a perfectly timed cover drive, with a professionally held pose. Okine’s 3 N.O ensured that no Buccaneer was in the duck hunt that day, leaving the Buccs on a respectable 184-8.
A tea of cake, sandwiches and Provençal Rosé was had by teams and umpires as the Buccaneers prepared mentally for the defence of their total.
Mann and Rydon took the new ball, opening up with some accurate and pacy bowling littered with dot balls and those narrowly missing the outside edge on multiple occasions. However, sadly not picking up the wickets of the opening pair.
Metcalfe and Moules came into the fold at first change, Metcalfe struggling with his length at times allowed a few runs to be scored in between maidens. Moules struck with his first over followed by a double wicket over in his third. The first wicket fell at 76 runs, leaving the Buccaneers with a tall task to limit Follies to their total of 184. Follies batted well and confidently, seemingly knowing well the undulating contours of the wicket. Follies eventually knocked the winning runs in the penultimate over of the game, in what was a tight and well contested match.
The teams and throng of fans were treated to wine, beer and nibbles post match. The Buccs look forward to returning next year in the hope of getting revenge.
Innings of Buccaneers
R Hobbs ct [ ] b Lloyd-Davies 9
T Fletcher ct [ ] b Rowland 6
A Berry ct [ ] b Gibson 9
S Mann ct [ ] b Rowland 2
S Moules ct [ ] b Grant 74
W Metcalfe ct [ ] b Baker 5
C Leech b Grant 6
O Mann b Grant 24
R Rydon not out 23
W Okines not out 3
Extras 21
Total 184-8
Bowling
Rowland 8-1-16-2
Lloyd-Davies 8-2-33-1
Gibson 8-1-44-1
Baker 7-0-47-1
Grant 8-2-37-3
Another 1-0-7-0
Innings of Follies Farm
T Green b Moules 46
C Scudamore ct [ ] b Moules 7
H Grant ct [ ] b Moules 5
C Baker b Moules 15
G Gibson ct [ ] b Mann 51
G Lloyd-Davies not out 8
J Lloyd-Davies b Leach 11
F Gibson not out 4
Extras 29
Total 186-6
Bowling
O Mann 8-1-27-2
R Rydon 8-3-25-0
W Metcalfe 8-2-33-0
S Moules 8-1-40-4
W Okines 1-0-20-0
C Leach 5.2-0-20-1