Buccaneers Cricket Club

This was the Buccs first visit to Frensham’s pretty ground.  It has an embankment the size of a small Alp at the top end and a vertiginous drop along the boundary at the bottom; not the place to take a catch running backwards – as if any of us would.

The topography makes for short straight boundaries.   I am glad to report that the captains agreed to a declaration game.  The wicket looked green and your captain decided to field.  Unfortunately, he lost the toss and the decision was made for him – we were in the field under a bubble-clouded but thankfully rainless sky.

Rob Rydon opened our bowling from the bottom end and soon put the poor innocents to the sword, dismissing their first three batsmen for a pittance.  By the end of a characteristically accurate spell of 8 overs (half of them maidens) he had 4 wickets for 6 runs, an admirable performance.  One of his victims fell to a quick-thinking Charlie Leefe at third slip, diving splendidly to take the ball popped-up by Tom Fletcher at second slip.  At the top end, the quality of Rob’s bowling was matched by that of Paul McCann, who took one for 24 in his 8 overs.

Having trawled 5 wickets for barely 50 runs, we were faced with an elusive fish at number 5, one M. Taylor, who defied us with the effective tactic of stepping away from nearly every delivery and invitingly exposing his stumps.  But leech-like, he survived.  Time to cast away our net and turn to the deft rod and fly of Steve Brandes, who twirled away for 11 overs from the bottom end, taking 3 for 29, one falling to a lightning stumping by Andy Morgan, who kept with the agility of a teenager and bagged two catches.  Yet still Taylor remained, gaining in confidence.  At the top end Angus Berry doggedly tried his luck but for no reward.  He was replaced by Charlie Leefe who bowled his leg-spinners cunningly and accurately but even he could not winkle out the stubborn Taylor.  Which irresistible force would overcome the immoveable object?   Our President took the stage and with his usual guile removed the last two wickets – but not Taylor, who left the field with 59 not out.  Only two other batsmen reached double figures (just) and Frensham ended with 127.

After a memorable tea (we must play Frensham next year or at least eat there) James Stringer and Simon Leefe began our reply.  Both looked assured and took us much of the way before James fell for 23 when the pair had posted 50 together.

Tom Fletcher – Slaughters through and through…

Unfortunately, Angus Berry did not manage to add to that and Simon was then dismissed for 29, leaving us at 67 for 3.  He had been joined by Tom Fletcher, who accumulated his runs elegantly and with Rob Rydon almost saw us home, being dismissed for 33 when the total was 117.  Rob was joined by Paul McCann who did not have much of a chance to demonstrate his skill (one 4) because Rob clearly needed to get home early.  Of his eight scoring strokes six were boundaries (four 4s, two 6s), including the final hit to win the match.  A victory by 6 wickets.

Frensham

P. Chuter             ct Morgan           b. R. Rydon            0
A Pailings             l.b.w.                     b. R. Rydon            3
R. Champneys   ct Morgan           b. R. Rydon            7
M. Smith              b.                            McCann                  4
M. Taylor             not out                                                 59
J. Barton              ct. C. Leefe         b. R. Rydon            0
D. Smith               b.                            Brandes               13
S. Lyford              ct. Stringer          b. Brandes             7
H. Baldock           st. Morgan          b. Brandes             1
B. Weeks             b.                            Woolfries            12
R. Chuter             b.                            Woolfries               0

Extras                                                                                    21

127

O.           M.          R.            W.
R. Rydon              8              4              6              4
P. McCann          8              3              24           1
S. Brandes           11           1              29           3
A. Berry                6              1              27           0
C. Leefe                7              2              22           0
S. Woolfries        2.3          0              6              2

Buccaneers

J. Stringer            l.b.w.                     b. Baldock           23
S. Leefe                l.b.w.                     b. Pailings            29
A. Berry                ct                            b. Baldock              0
T. Fletcher           l.b.w.                     Smith                    33
R. Rydon              not out                                                 31
P. McCann          not out                                                    4

Extras                                                                                       8

128

Unsurprisingly, our game versus Hurlingham this weekend was rained off.

Arriving at Sheffield Park, the Buccs were intrigued to see the light mower hard at work removing two inches of very green grass from the playing surface. Sadly, the outfield mower had not wintered as well and the lush greensward swayed gently in the breeze. Thus, the skipper concluded that boundaries were going to be hard to come by. Having won the toss, it was an easy decision to field (even though this meant that the grass would be even longer when we batted).

A Leefe leave was spotted in the long grass

Rydon and Moules opened effectively and both found lateral movement off the pitch. Moules beat the bat regularly but failed to get a nick. Rydon, belying his years and showing a spring in his heels – possibly the result of a sharp new pair of boots – quickly opened his account with a ball that hit pad then bat before dribbling feebly onto the stumps. His next wicket had the purists purring as a good length ball cut in off the seam and hit the top of middle and off (of the pimped up stumps), splitting the bails.

Hobson and Bjorn were on next. Hobbo took some early stick from tank commander, Ben Langman, who launched a couple of howitzers into the woods (where he considered a machine gun nest was likely). But Hobbo soon found his nagging length and got great “hang time”. Hobbo was back. Two wickets swiftly followed, both caught, as the batsmen failed to cope. Bjorn meanwhile got his in-duckers working beautifully and quickly got the important wicket of Langman for 37 as well as figures of .

The Buccs laze as skipper Leefe steers them to safety

With the middle order exposed it was time to go for the jugular so on came Woolfries and Berry. Woolfries’ pace (or lack of it), completely bamboozled the Dills. Figures of 3-14 were well deserved, his third wicket earned with a sharp catch at silly mid off after the youngest Dill smashed his very first ball at Hobson who showed no mercy pouching it with glee. Berry meanwhile did a rather better impression of Alan Mullaly than Mullaly ever did, bowling accurate left arm medium pace over the wicket. Kandampully, with an eye for the dramatic, fell gracefully onto a catch at mid on to give Berry his first wicket. A clean bowled then wrapped up the tail.

Despite a modest target of 116 to win, the Buccs were careful to avoid complacency. However, openers Kandampully and Greenish (on loan from the Dills) were clearly in no mood to hang around. Greenish smashed three fours, before perishing to a reverse sweep off the Dills’ opening quick bowler. Kandampully looked comfortable until he smoked an on drive at grass height level (admittedly, now quite high) which the bowler somehow managed to snaffle.

Stringer shows that he can (occasionally) be aggressive…

Stringer duly anchored the innings from this point and for the most part avoided succumbing to the red mist despite the advent of some tempting slow stuff.

His batting grew in fluency as decent running between the wickets kept the run rate up at four an over.

He formed a useful partnersip with skipper Leefe and their running between the wickets belied their now middle age.

With Leefe falling to the Dills’ youngest bowler, an impatient Berry stepped in and duly crashed a couple of fours. A good win with all Buccaneers contributing.

Innings of Armadillos 

Q Onkarknot b R Rydon 11
Y Colville b R Rydon 8
H Ostler ct S Leefe b P Hobson 16
B Langman b F Bjorn 37
J Colville b S Woolfries 17
R Taylor ct and. P Hobson 1
A Skrypel ct F Bjorn b S Woolfries 0
J Willaly ct V Kandampully b A Berry 3
T Bourne not out 6
L Bebb ct P Hobson b S Woolfries 0
T Bebb b A Berry

Extras 15
Total 116 all out

R Rydon 9-3-20-2
S Moules 8-1-25-0
P Hobson 8-2-28-2
F Bjorn 8-2-10-1
S Woolfries 6-2-14-3
A Berry 5.4-3-5-2

Innings of Buccaneers

V Kandampully ct and b Willaly 3
F Greenish ct Colville b Willaly 20
J Stringer not out 30
S Leefe lbw b L Bebb 31
A Berry not out 13

Extras 14
Total 117-3

J Willaly 4-0-26-2
R Taylor 5-2-11-0
O Onkarknot 4.4-1-11-0
B Langman 5-0-11-0
T Bebb 3-1-18-0
A Skrypel 3-0-18-0
L Bebb 3-0-13-1

Buccaneers v Newdigate on Sunday 15 May

The following despatch has been received from skipper Paul Hobson:

“Unfort. we lost.

They made 264! In 40 overs. Yes, we need some serious bowling practice. We made we bowled out for 195 top order didn’t make enough quickly enough. Spirited middle order but unlucky and comedy wickets! Out.”

Shame we didn’t get more detail, but it looks like we did our best to drink the fixture back.

Innings of Newdigate

S Roost ct b S Moules 24
M Rome ct and b Hobbs 31
T O’Malley ct b Crichton 68
R Wickremasinghe ct b Leefe 35
D Mares Run out 59
L O’Brien ct and b Hobson 6
S Kehl ct  b S Moules 18
A Kehl st b Hobson 3
D Crook not out 6
M Hussain Run out 1
R Flower not out 0

Extras 12

Total 264-9 (40 overs)

S Moules 8-1-35-2
A Berry 5-0-29-0
R Hobbs 5-0-37-1
S Leefe 8-0-47-1
W Metcalfe 6-0-48-0
J Crichton 4-0-26-1
P Hobson 4-0-38-2

Innings of Buccaneers

J Milne run out b D Mares 61
C Vollers B R Flowers 4
J Crichton lbw M Hussain 9
P Hobson ct b M Hussain 9
W Metcalfe ct b A Kehl 13
S Moules b D Crook 25
A Berry b S Kehl 30
T Fletcher ct  b S Kehl 33
R Hobbs ct b S Kehl 0
S Leefe ct R Flower 1
S Brandes not out 0

Extras 6

Total 195 all out (35 overs)

R Flower 6.2-0-25-2
M Hussain 8-0-34-2
D Crook 8-0-41-1
A Kehl 5-0-22-1
D Mares 4-0-37-1
S Kehl 4-0-31-3

Forest Row offered its usual early season setting; work-in-progress outfield, sticky dog wicket and 30 yard boundary on one side, as the Buccaneers gathered in good time to win the toss and chose to field first for their allotted 35 overs. Founder Geoffrey Moore would have been proud that the team looked smart as it took to the field, some resplendent in monogrammed caps.

The Forest Row openers faced Moules and Berry, a testing right/left combination. Moules – all furious pace, like a modern day Waqar Younis, while Berry played the part of Wasim Akram, hooping it around in helpful conditions. Berry picked up the wickets of Gardner and Carter to smart catches from Milne pater and minor.

The cold weather made fielding testing although much was made of original woollen and very warm Buccaneers jumpers, available from Castell & Sons in Oxford (www.varsityshop.co.uk, +44 1865 244000).

The Forest Row team lost wickets regularly at one end through strong ground fielding, while Holmes on his own, with 74, led the assault on young Ludo – aided by the shortest of short boundaries. However, Ludo showed true grit and determination to weather the storm and returned creditable figures of 1-56 off seven overs. The brake was then applied admirably by Hobbs with 5-19 off seven overs and this was combined with some dynamic catching, especially by Dave Close who snaffled a sharp one that would have disturbed the bread basket if he hadn’t pouched it.

The total of 160 off 30 overs looked competitive.

After a tea with excellent scones and clotted cream, the Buccaneers opened in confident style with Vollers and the rejuvenated Ludo Milne putting on 81 for the first wicket. The wicket started at this point to get a little sporty, with the older members remarking on what Derek Underwood would have managed on it.

After Chakravarti and Swinn perished cheaply, Moules showed that he is in fact Imran Khan rather than Waqar Younis with some clean hitting. At this point victory looked assured, until one smashed straight drive from Moules dropped agonisingly short and into the safe hands of a fielder. The skipper was still confident that with the combined might of Berry, Hobbs, Fletcher and Milne, the last defence of Close and Stringer would not be needed. It was.

With 12 runs needed and 7 overs left the last pair came together and nurdled their way (without much alarm, although a lot of questionable appealing) to 160 with 3 overs to go. Then the red mist descended and Dave saw a Brathwaite like-moment appearing. Alas the ball fell obligingly to a Forest Row fielder and a tie was the result.

The clothing theme for the afternoon was completed as Ludo’s cricket boots (previously left in the dressing room) were safely delivered to their grateful owner and his glowering father. Cold War tension (a subject of Ludo’s GCSE revision) seemed alive and well in the Milne household as they departed.

Innings of Forest Row

J Holmes b Hobbs 74
D Gardner ct L Milne b Berry 9
A Carter ct J Milne b Berry 0
B Ellis ct and b Swinn 36
C Rockingham ct and b L Milne 3
C Bruce ct D Close b Hobbs 0
C Franklin ct D Close b Hobbs 0
S Mason ct Fletcher b Hobbs 9
M Woodward b Hobbs 16
S Ellis run out 4
J Young not out 0

Extras 9
Total 160 all out

S Moules 6-1-27-0
A Berry 7-3-26-2
L Milne 7-1-56-1
R Hobbs 7-1-19-5
M Swinn 2.1-0-27-1
J Milne 1-1-0-0

Innings of Buccaneers

C Vollers b Ellis 29
L Milne ct wktkpr 46
S Chakravarti ct b Franklin 14
M Swinn ct wktkpr b Ellis 4
S Moules ct Franklin b Mason 20
A Berry ct b Mason 9
R Hobbs ct and b Mason 0
T Fletcher lbw Mason 9
J Milne ct b Franklin 2
D Close ct Mason b Franklin 2
J Stringer not out 5

Extras 11
Total 160 all out

J Young 4-0-51-0
S Ellis 7-0-18-3
A Carter 3-1-20-0
C Franklin 7-1-39-2
S Mason 7-0-21-4
J Holmes 2.3-0-5-1
M Woodward 2-1-1-1

The 2015 averages have been published and are available to view by clicking here.

Last year was a good year, with seven matches won and only four lost. The season also included the record-breaking draw at Old Cranleighans (with 699 runs scored for the loss of 12 wickets).

It was also a golden summer with the bat, with three batsmen averaging over 50 (Rob Rydon, Paul Hobson and Jeremy Milne).

Leading bowler was Paul McCann, with Ludo Milne taking second place. Paul Hobson took most wickets and also bowled most overs.

A review of the season will be offered by the President at this Thursday’s Annual Dinner. Tickets are still available.

Warborough & Shillingford won toss – elected to bat

Warborough & Shillingford

Mark Searle lbw b Elston 11 (37 balls, 50 mins, 2 fours)
Matt Thompson c Harcourt b Danson 7 (33 balls, 30 mins, 1 four)
† Tom Elder c Ragnauth b Danson 2 (7 balls, 6 mins)
* Rohan Iswariah c Battley b Woolfries 10 (45 balls, 58 mins, 1 four)
Marcus Ward lbw b Butcher 6 (40 balls, 42 mins)
Daniel Leach lbw b Woolfries 27 (32 balls, 31 mins, 4 fours)
Freddie Iswariah not out 55 (92 balls, 95 mins, 7 fours)
Arran Ryde c Harcourt b Okines 7 (10 balls, 16 mins)
Sean Leach lbw b Butcher 9 (11 balls, 15 mins, 2 fours)
Chris Ward b Butcher 16 (32 balls, 31 mins, 2 fours)
Alan Tilley run out 0 (7 balls, 5 mins)
Extras (10 byes, 9 leg-byes, 1 wide, 4 no-balls) 24
—
Total (57 overs) 174

Fall of wickets: 1−22 (Thompson @ 9.2 ovs)
2−28 (Elder @ 11.1 ovs)
3−30 (Searle @ 14.1 ovs)
4−52 (M Ward @ 26.4 ovs)
5−52 (R Iswariah @ 27.1 ovs)
6−98 (D Leach @ 35.2 ovs)
7−115 (Ryde @ 40.4 ovs)
8−137 (S Leach @ 45.1 ovs)
9−167 (C Ward @ 55.1 ovs)
10−174 (Tilley @ 56.6 ovs)

R Elston 11 − 4 − 23 − 1 (1 wide)
A Danson 7 − 0 − 15 − 2 (1 no-ball)
S Wright 4 − 3 − 1 − 0
B Butcher 13 − 6 − 23 − 3
S Woolfries 11 − 0 − 50 − 2 (3 no-balls)
W Okines 11 − 2 − 43 − 1

Buccaneers

V Kandampully b Tilley 20 (36 balls, 2 fours)
P Battley b D Leach 9 (11 balls, 1 four)
R Pillai c C Ward b D Leach 17 (34 balls, 3 fours)
D Clifford b D Leach 0 (2 balls)
A Danson c D Leach b Ryde 27 (51 balls, 1 four)
S Wright c Thompson b F Iswariah 44 (66 balls, 3 fours)
† J Harcourt b Tilley 2 (6 balls)
R Elston b Ryde 0 (6 balls)
B Butcher b Ryde 1 (9 balls)
W Okines c Searle b Tilley 5 (22 balls)
S Woolfries not out 0 (4 balls)
Extras (2 byes, 2 leg-byes, 7 wides, 1 no-ball) 12
—
Total (41/51+ overs) 137

Did not bat: * M Ragnauth

Fall of wickets: 1−11 (Battley @ 2.3 ovs)
2−41 (Pillai @ 10.4 ovs)
3−42 (Clifford @ 12.2 ovs)
4−47 (Kandampully @ 15.1 ovs)
5−103 (Danson @ 28.4 ovs)
6−108 (Harcourt @ 31.1 ovs)
7−112 (Elston @ 32.4 ovs)
8−118 (Butcher @ 34.4 ovs)
9−135 (Wright @ 39.2 ovs)
10−137 (Okines @ 40.6 ovs)

Daniel Leach 13 − 0 − 45 − 3
Chris Ward 5 − 1 − 17 − 0
Alan Tilley 15 − 4 − 29 − 3 (1 wide)
Arran Ryde 7 − 0 − 42 − 3 (1 no-ball, 6 wides)
Freddie Iswariah 1 − 1 − 0 − 1

Warborough & Shillingford won by 37 runs

How else can these things be explained but for the arrival of Jeremy Corbyn? Just when ‘Craptain’ Stringer was beginning to feel the pressure to deliver after five unsuccessful attempts to unseat the Gentlemen from their privileged perch, along came a win. Vive la Revolution.

A sylvan setting

When groundsman Jeremy warned the two captains that worm casts might prove decisive, all arrived on the ground with some trepidation (but no wellies). After a quick sweep and an hour of sun, the Betchworth track resembled its usual self, an ugly-looking pudding. But just as this fact never put off Paul Hobson from a woman in a nightclub, so it didn’t deter the toss being won by under-fire Milliband and asking David Cameron and his cabinet to bat (Enough political analogies. Ed).

The Greek god roars in

Rydon chose to open with Ollie Metcalfe and Crispin Vollers, tasking them with seeing off the combined menace of Paul McCann and Steve Moules. McCann, stalking in from the North Downs End soon resembled a better Steve Finn, generating late away swing and bounce. After one fearsome lofted on drive Metcalfe succumbed and nicked off with a smart catch being taken by the well honeymooned-Sujay Chakravarti. Vollers was joined by Jeremy Milne and this pair put on 38 runs in trying conditions. Moules’ display should result in a letter to the Editor of ‘Biggleswade Today’, neh The Times, to seek an explanation as to why the Potton skipper considers that he wouldn’t even get a bowl in a Chinese restaurant. His delivery to dismiss Vollers was unplayable, pitching on middle and leg and hitting the top of off. Vollers retired from the pitch muttering that his butler hadn’t prepared him for that type of delivery…

Simon Leefe joined Milne, and the rebuilding continued. Milne was the model of stout defence yet quick to pounce on anything over-pitched or short. Similarly ‘Nissan’ Leefe skipped down the wicket and felt able to punish the newly introduced Gordon and Hobson’s less effective deliveries. It took a piece of inspiration to turn the game. Milne, confusing Hobson’s larrikin activities at extra cover for a lack of concentration, decided to poke a drive straight to him, and then set off for the other end. Alas, even Leefe, who normally covers the ground like the electric mouse in a Tom & Jerry cartoon couldn’t recover and Hobson’s arrow-like throw broke the stumps and their 42 run partnership. 87-2. Newcomer Hobbs arrived and was mostly respectful of newcomer Angus Berry’s SLAB. And so to lunch – as ever taken in the Red Lion – and although a number of Gentlemen remarked that a better lunch was available at the Carlton Club, the Players fell on the fare like the orphan-raised urchins that many of them are.

After a few words from El Presidente, battle was resumed with Darryl Bird (resembling Morne Morkel, but with a better action) taking up from the North Downs End while James ‘E’ Smith (son of the Fall lead singer) did the same at the Trampoline end. The squeeze was applied, with Bird in particular leading the death charge with 2-24 off his five overs. Hobbs was particularly invigorated by lunch, going mad in one over from Smith and taking him for 11 runs before perishing shortly after for 14 to a another smart catch by Sujay. Tom Fletcher, another newcomer, also threatened to get away, but Bird and then the returning McCann, ‘did’ for one Gentleman after another (a phrase redolent to one often muttered by the Gentlemen at their boarding schools). One Rydon came and went (Ed), and then amazingly so did another – the skipper to a steepler safely pouched by Hobson 700 yards from the bat, before the innings was closed at 167 for the loss of seven wickets. Jeremy finished on 75 not out, a fine effort in low scoring conditions.

Craptain Stringer avoided reflecting too much on the misquote of top sporting sage Gary Lineker who asserted that 22 men ran around for several hours and Rob Rydon won. Rydon immediately demonstrated the ‘funky’ captaincy that has led to numerous sporting accolades (excluding yachting, thanks for that tip Louisa), by challenging the ‘blunting’ tactic of opening with Soumak Bose and Sujay Chakravarti. Still Bjӧrn and Lӭefe (sounding more like an Ikea furniture collection) provided a stern test, with Bjӧrn earning figures of 8-2-20-3 including the wickets of both openers and Super-Smith (assisted by a Mark Waugh-like catch at second slip by John Bryant). Rydon at last stirred himself, like a gladiator prowling the arena scenting blood and he fully tested the resolute defence of ‘Jack’ Hobbs-son. However, uncharacteristically he was soon feeling the effects of Gordon’s fading hangover.

Attack with Johnno Gordon

Johnno batted like a man who owns a bat company, with products to sell when he senses there are a substantial number of sales to be made to over-paid City types. He didn’t disappoint adding 62 valuable runs and a 63 run partnership with Hobson. However once he was out and at 95 for four, the match was still in the balance. Okines replaced the tiring god but out strode Man of the Match-elect Moules and a bruised but unbowed Berry. Skipper Stringer paced the boundary like an expectant father as first Moules and then his pal decided that Exmouth market was calling and the hurry up was needed. Moules in particular was savage on Warwick, depositing him for one and then a second (to clinch the match) flat six into the Trampoline End field.

Stringer was looking forward to a reverse of the ritual humiliation of the losing captain presenting the winner with the Mynott thimble. Suspiciously, Rob needed to rush off to a 50th birthday party thus avoiding this fate. I assume one is taught this tactic during a private education. The news was cabled to the Buccaneers’ Ambassador for Italy, the Rt Hon Inzamam ul-Hack who declared that he could now die happy.

Innings of The Gentlemen

O Metcalfe ct Chakravarti b McCann 6
C Vollers b Moules 20
J Milne Not out 75
S Leefe Run out 20
R Hobbs ct Chakravarti b Bird 14
T Fletcher ct Smith b Bird 20
E Rydon ct Moules b McCann 0
R Rydon* ct Hobson b McCann 0
F Bjӧrn Not out 0

Extras 7

Total 167-7 (40 overs)

Fow 1-7(1), 2-45(2), 3-87(4), 4-119(5), 5-159(6), 6-161(7), 7-162(8)

P McCann 8-0-29-3
S Moules 8-2-14-1
J Gordon 5-1-15-0
P Hobson 4-0-17-0
S Brandes 4-0-23-0
A Berry 2-0-16-0
J Smith 5-0-26-0
D Bird 5-0-24-2

Innings of Players

S Bose ct Hobbs b Bjӧrn 15
S Chakravarti b Bjӧrn 7
J Smith ct Bryant b Bjӧrn 2
P Hobson lbw Hobbs 14
J Gordon ct Metcalfe b Hobbs 62
S Moules Not out 33
A Berry Not out 30

1-23(2), 2-24(1), 3-32(3), 4-95(4), 5-115(5)

Extras 9

Total 173 for 5 (36 overs)

F Bjӧrn 8-2-20-3
S Leefe 5-0-19-0
R Rydon 6-1-20-0
J Bryant 4-0-28-0
W Okines 8-0-60-0
R Hobbs 5-0-24-2

A Buccs side full of youth turned up to picturesque Farnham CC keen to avenge last year’s loss against the Wanderers. Faced with a stodgy looking wicket and no sign of the six foot six spinner that ravaged the Buccs in 2014, Vollers used the winning toss to send his oppo into bat.

The opening pair of Metcalfe and Moules started well with the latter rewarded early on, dismissing a dangerous looking bat after he sent a pearler through the gate. Unfortunately the second of the Buccs pacemen had to withdraw from the after twisting his back so Hobson was thrown the almost new ball to dibble and dobble from the pavilion end.

After a few very tight overs, Hobbo decided to throw in some variation and try the ‘much-slower-full-bunger’…success! The batsman had just about finished licking his lips when he found he had plonked the pie straight at Chakravarti at short mid-wicket. Oops. Woolfries joined the party and was soon awarded a plum LBW. A couple of quick wickets and the Buccs were back in the game. One problem stood in the way however – the other opening bat, who appeared ungetoutable.

Leefe was particularly impressive in the field, throwing himself around the boundary as the big opener began to see a beach ball. Leefe’s commitment rubbed off on the rest of the team and while the Buccs weren’t taking many wickets, run scoring was tough. The star fielder was relieved of his boundary-stopping duties and thrown the ball to join the spin attack. Keeper Morgan, playing in his 50th season for the club (50th season!!), clung onto a knick to remove another sponsor-laden batsman and this lifted the fielding side. A solid spell from Woolfries was followed by more Moules who bowled a fine 13 overs in the heat of the day.

The Wanderers declared on 226 from 42 overs which, with a now sun-soaked pitch and faster outfield in store, was very generous of their captain. Would the Buccs capitalise…?

After a delicious tea, Hobbo headed  to the local off license to get a few cold ciders for the spectators and returned to see the Buccs were three down for not many. Streatfield, on debut for the club, followed a couple of good looking punches down the ground with a gentle sweep straight into the keeper’s gloves and Bennison was castled by a jaffer. Hobbs entered the fray and immediately smashed one into the bushes. Unfortunately this cavalier approach didn’t come off and the next attempted biff found the hands of the Wanderer mid-on. Vollers was in next and he and Chakravati attempted to plug the holes in a fast sinking HMS Buccaneer. They seemed to be succeeding before Vollers inexplicably threw his wicket away, gently chipping one into the air off a bowler whose spell would end 2-0-24-1. Blast. Metcalfe’s day didn’t improve as he left a ball that jagged back into his off stump then Moules didn’t last much longer as scoreboard pressure started to tell. At 95 for seven, the incoming Hobson set about protecting his top of the table Buccs average. Dealing almost exclusively in boundaries his squash-buckling knock was admired up close by Leefe, Morgan, and Woolfries who all provided brief support before the Buccs were eventually bowled out for 120. It was a shame they couldn’t do the beautiful setting justice but a good day was had by all and the Buccs enjoyed a post-match de-brief in the local pub while Hobbo calculated his average in the corner.

Innings of Wanderers

G King not out 123
S Gul ct Morgan b Moules 8
P Melhuish ct Chakravarti b Hobson 20
B Aldridge lbw Woolfries 1
M Nicholson ct Morgan b S Leefe 23
S March b Leefe 5
R Love not out 18

Extras 16
Total 226 for 6 dec

Metcalfe 3-0-14-0
Moules 13-1-58-1
Hobson 9-1-36-1
Woolfries 8-0-60-1
Leefe 9-0-49-2

 Innings of Buccaneers

Streatfield ct Brooks b J Aldridge 6
Chakravarti ct b Tindall 31
Bennison b J Aldridge 2
Hobbs v Melhuish 6
Vollers ct Bennett b B Aldridge 18
Metcalfe b J Aldridge 0
Moules ct J Aldridge b Bennet 4
Hobson not out 36
Leefe ct J Aldridge b Tindall 7
Morgan ct Mar b Bennet 1
Woolfries lbw Tindall 1

Extras 15
Total 120 all out

J Aldridge 9-0-37-3
P Melhuish 5-2-7-1
B Aldridge 2-0-24-1
R Tindall 7.3-1-23-3
J Bennet 6-1-27-2

What more could a captain ask for? Winning the toss and batting on a belter of a pitch at Hurstpierpoint in the bright sunshine. At 12 for 3 and still missing three of his team he could have asked for a lot more. Chakravarti (Sujay), Mann J and Leefe S all departed without troubling the scorers and Burstow D had bowling figures to rival Stuart Broad. Andy Morgan, using all of his fifty years of Buccaneers playing experience, steadied the ship and along with Alex Rydon put on a few runs. Then Burstow struck again and Hobson P (after negotiating heavy traffic from London) entered the fray. The Milnes, at this stage, were rushing to the match after the captain had rung them and found them still in their pyjamas. After years of playing in the fixture they had thought it was on the Sunday. Doh.

Rydon R joined Hobbo after Andy had missed a straight one and hung around until lunch. After a fine three course lunch, they were able to up the tempo and Rydon chanced his arm, eventually succumbing for 61. Hobbo continued his fine form for the season but was out for 53. This bought Milne J and Milne L together and father and son put on a fine display (apart from the running between the wickets). Freddie Bjorn came in at number 10 and smashed the ball to all parts of the ground and Leefe C ‘closed’ proceedings with a fine 0 not out without facing a ball. All out for 219 at 3.30pm.

Rydon R opened down the hill and was amazed to find one of his deliveries being taken at third slip. Let me repeat that. A Buccaneers’ catch taken in the slips. A Buccaneers’ catch taken at third slip! After this excitement, batting continued as usual and Bjorn F was deposited to most parts of the ground that he had earlier found with his bat. As tea approached, OHJ’s looked comfortable at 47 for 1. Then Rydon R bagged another couple of wickets and Leefe C , with flight and spin, induced a  catch in the covers and tea was taken in much better spirits with the OHJs at  52 for 4.  After a fine selection of sarnies and cakes, the Leefe combo bowled in tandem to good effect. Wickets fell at regular intervals, mostly caught by Hobbo. When he wasn’t catching them he was involved in the bowling part. A fine stumping by Morgan followed as well as a regulation catch in the covers by our substitute fielder. However, the fact that we had a substitute fielder couldn’t be regulation. The fact that it was Chunky Gouldstone (in the Hurst 1^st XI in 1964, as evidenced in the pavilion) who ‘caught’ it  and the fact that he allowed it to hit his chest before using his hands made it less regulation than usual. A bit of biffing by the tail enabled the captain to employ another young spinner and Milne L wrapped up proceedings with a ball that clipped the top of off stump. The OHJs cricket week ended with the lowering of the flag, accompanied by the Last Post, and most of the team repairing to the New Inn to sample fine Sussex ale and relive Chunky’s catch.

A RYDON        CT WELCH BWL BURSTOW  26
Sj CHAKRAVARTI  CT WARRENDER BWL BURSTOW o
S LEEFE    CT MOULTON BWL BURSTOW 0
MANN J      LBW  BURSTOW 0
A MORGAN  BOWLED SIMKINS 15
A HOBSON   BOWLED SIMKINS 53
R RYDON  CT MOULTON BWL SIMKINS 61
J MILNE  CT CHADWELL BOWLED BURSTOW 11
L MILNE  LBW HALL  19
F BJORN  ST WARRENDER BWL BURSTOW 19
C LEEFE     NOT OUT  0

219 ALL OUT

P MCGAHAN  13-1 -61-0
D BURSTOW  12.1-4-38-6
S SIMKINS   11-3-50-3
S HALL  11-3-20-1
F WILSON  6-1-36-0

OHJs

J PILGRIM      CT HOBSON BWL  RYDON R 4
E WELCH      CT MANN  BWL LEEFE C 32
S WARRENDER  BOWLED  RYDON R 9
B MOULTON  LBW RYDON R  1
S HALL  CT HOBSON BWL LEEFE C 20
M LOWNDES  LBW HOBSON  30
D BURSTOW CT SUB (GOULDSTONE) BWL HOBSON 0
F WILSON   CT HOBSON BWL LEEFE S 5
P MCGAHAN STPD MORGAN BWL HOBSON 16
S SIMKINS  NOT OUT  21
N CHADWELL BOWLED MILNE L 9

ALL OUT 150

R RYDON 7-3-16-3
F BJORN 3-0-23-0
C LEEFE  9-1-45-2
S LEEFE 10-0-33-1
P HOBSON 7-3-18-3
L MILNE 2.4-0-14-1