Buccaneers 227-7 (40 overs) beat Henley 214 (38.2 overs) by 13 runs
Having enjoyed a rejuvenating transfer window, a new-look Buccaneers side featuring 4 debutants and two teenage sons of committee men rode the wave of youth to clinch the club’s 4th successive victory with a rare win at Henley on Sunday.
Opting to bat first in the sun on an idyllic ground, the Buccs suffered the early hiccup of a rejigged batting order and the early loss of Crispin Vollers. However, debutants Elliott Cloy and Matt Bennison soon made themselves at home, cracking the ball to all parts to bring up the 100 before the halfway stage.
After the curse of the drinks break had undone Bennison just short of his half-century, Matt Luxford sauntered in to continue the runfest with his high backlift redolent of Goochie. Sujay Chakravarti enjoyed the freedom of No5 to play an elegant cameo before Cloy was run out for a stylish 79. Rydon and Marsh scampered the last few runs but this wasn’t the time-honoured Rydoni/Marshetti duo of yesteryear
but their sons aged 16 and 15. However, a total of 227 in the allotted 40 overs was felt to be slightly below par.
After an excellent tea, including samosas, onion bhajis and chicken satays, skipper Rob Rydon gave his side a bright start with a wicket 2nd ball. Will Noble wobbled the ball at the other end and soon bowled the other opener.
However, with Henley’s powerful No3 Davison punching the ball impressively, the Buccs played cat and mouse to try to deprive him of the strike. The club’s youth policy was employed with good effect, Alex Rydon swinging the ball with control and Archie Marsh ripping his leg breaks, which bamboozled two batsmen and would have removed Davison but for a dropped catch at mid on.
One of the Buccs more mature swingers then entered the fray to dramatic effect as Paul Hobson took a wicket with his first ball. Hobbo added two more scalps, one with a brilliant
over he shoulder diving catch by Matt Bennison.
Another Buccs debutant, Josh Hume, a nephew of the skipper, then bowled one of the 3 Chappells while Davison continued to blast the ball over the boundary. As the light dimmed, Noble returned to snatch another wicket to set up a
cliff-hanger finish.
In the penultimate over, Henley needed 14 with just one wicket remaining. Hobbo swung one away in the gloaming, No11 swung his bat and the ball flew to the captain who pouched the catch at mid off to clinch a well-deserved victory.
Buccaneers innings
Crispin Vollers 6
Eliott Cloy 79
Matt Bennison 46
Matt Luxford 20
Sujay Chakravarti 36
Paul Hobson 7
Will Noble 2
Alex Rydon not out 9
Archie Marsh not out 0
- TOTAL 227-7 (40 overs)
Neville 0-41
E Hussein 1-45
Laing 1-25
T Chappell 1-46
Johnson 0-18
A Chappell 2-31
M Hussein 1-9
Henley innings
Johnson lbw b R Rydon 0
P Neville b Noble 5
Davison not out 118
M Hussein c Noble b Marsh 24
Johnson lbw b Hobson 18
A Chappell c Bennison b Marsh 1
T Chappell c Bennison b Hobson 0
E Hussein c Vollers b Hobson 0
P Chappell b Hume 2
J Neville c Cloy b Noble 0
Laing c R Rydon b Hobson 4
TOTAL 214
Rob Rydon 1-14
Will Noble 2-36
Alex Rydon 0-36
Archie Marsh 2-37
Paul Hobson 4-37
Josh Hume 1-32