Buccaneers Cricket Club

So down to the cricket. We won the toss, elected to bat and it was a decision that was immediately put under the microscope when on the fifth ball of the innings some strange calling, followed by some equally strange running to the same end, resulted in the umpires converging for quite a while. Did the keeper control the ball? Who was actually run out? Did anyone video it for YouTube? Unfortunately there was no video replay available to aid their decision and Sujay ‘The Wall’ lost his appeal.

Thorpe (left) and Hussain (right) celebrate the win at Forest Row

In gathering gloom reminiscent of England’s famous win in the Karachi twilight almost 15 years ago, the Buccaneers wrestled victory from the slavering jaws of defeat at Forest Row on Sunday 26 April.

With captain James Stringer (46 not out) playing the Nasser Hussain role, though with less good humour but more shots, and Nav Kokri (47 not out) reprising Graham Thorpe’s well-paced match-winning knock, the Buccaneers chased down 195 with four wicket standing and 2.3 overs to spare.

Yet this terrific win looked as unlikely as a Peter Moores knighthood midway through the innings when Buccs were 80 for 5 and then 114 for 6 on a damp greentop. The Forest Row bowling was challenging enough in the conditions and the early tone was set when Sujay Chakravarti departed in the first over.

James Smith looked in very decent nick until given out lbw for 24 by Umpire Close, whose surname seemed something of an oxymoron in the circumstances given the batsman’s view of the questionable decision. Smith reacted to the dismissal with the charm and good grace one would expect from a man raised in the northern leagues.

The Buccaneers’ bowling and fielding was generally impressive considering the challenges that nature placed in the way on the day: arctic temperatures, a wet ball not to mention a short boundary on one side and an even shorter one on the other.

All of the six bowlers took at least one wicket, Smith two with his spin. Paul Hobson hooped the ball around like Jimmy Anderson in a wind tunnel and was unfortunate not to pick up more than one wicket. Manyon returned after a chastening early-season spell first up, to bowl ball of the day, pitching middle and hitting the top of off to dismiss Ellis. Bjorn defied local UKIP prejudices to show that Scandinavians can bowl tidy inswing and Stern bowled with both flight and guile … (enough of this. Ed.). Stern also contributed to the afternoon by offering Hobson cod-instruction on how to bowl the inswinger at the drinks break. The Buccs stuck at it well and for once no catches were dropped.

Forest Row v Buccaneers

Toss: Buccaneers

Forest Row innings

J Holmes         c                                  b Bjorn           47
S Ellis              c Suj. Chakravarti      b Kokri          20
B Ellis                                                  b Manyon       17
J De Souza      c Hobson                    b Smith           9
D Rosslee       st Suj. Chakravarti     b Stern          12
C Franklin      run out                                                37
S Mason                                              b Smith           32
I McPake         not out                                                  4

Extras                                                                             27
Total (for 6 wickets, 40 overs)                                195
FOW 1-57, 88-2, 102-3, 121-4, 122-5, 190-6, 195-7

Bowling:

F Bjorn 8-3-32-1
R Manyon 8-2-49-1
P Hobson 8-1-26-1
J Smith 7-0-32-2
J Stern 5-0-22-1
N Kokri 4-0-24-1

Buccaneers innings

†Suj. Chakravarti                                           b Woodward 0
J Smith                        lbw                              b Mason         24
Sub. Chakravarti                                            b Young          13
P Hobson                                                       b Mason         19
J Stern                                                             b Holmes        7
M Ghatak                    c                                  b McPake        20
N Kokri                       not out                                                 47
*J Stringer                  not out                                                46

Extras                                                                                        22
Total (for 6 wickets, 37.3 overs)                                         196
FOW: 1-0, 2-42, 3-51, 4-66, 5-80, 6-114

Bowling:
Woodward 8-1-27-1
Cryer 3-0-16-0
Mason 8-1-16-2
Young 3-0-17-0
Holmes 7-0-33-1
McPake 3-0-24-1
Franklin 2-0-13-0
De Souza 3.3-0-36-0

The 2014 averages have been published. You can access them by clicking here.

“Don’t miss Matthew Engel and our ‘Ale for All’ reception at the Buccaneers Annual Dinner on Thursday 12 March at the East India Club.

We’re delighted to have persuaded the distinguished writer Matthew Engel (pictured below), author, Guardian and FT columnist and celebrated editor of Wisden, to speak at our 85th dinner in 16 St James’s Square, SW1Y 4LH.

To whet our appetite for Matthew’s original thoughts and observations, a complimentary cask of ale is provided from 6.30pm. Our AGM starts at 6.30pm and dinner will be served at 8pm. After the delicious three-course meal, President Simon Woolfries will review the 2014 season and presen the Geoffrey Moore Trophy to the Player of the Season. A late bar allows plenty time to socialise after dinner and we look forward to welcoming you in March.

To download our booking form, click here 

Was it only 14 years ago that the first House Match took place? A petrol crisis nearly put paid to that match, while this time round holidays, old age and injuries seemed to be the reason why we struggled to get two full teams. With Rob utilising his family connections to get six Rydons into his team and two last minute cry-offs , we assembled at a damp and overcast Betchworth for a prompt 11.00am start with ten a side.

So much for the prompt start. Rob won the toss and as he had the most players on parade (and because of the overcast conditions and green pitch) decided to bowl. A tight opening spell from Rob and Will Wingfield Digby kept James and Sujay under control. Pressure mounted and a quick single to Will Rydon was cut off as a diving stop and throw broke the stumps. Sujay was out by a country mile, but Chunky who was (not) in position thought otherwise. Apart from a plumb LBW against James (who was walking to the pavilion before he realised he had not been given), both Chunky and John Marsh umpired with great skill and sympathy. Anyway, the trundlers didn’t get any wickets and so spin was turned to with Simons Leefe and Woolfries. Leefe induced a catch to Will R (with the compliment later returned by Simon off Will) and Alex Rydon affected a sharp run out with a pick up and direct hit. Hobbo entered the fray and started to show his class with some lovely on drives reaching the boundary (a particularly hard task, with the long wet grass and upward slopes). Muktesh and Subir came and went and Jeremy joined Hobbo to take on assorted Rydons (Will and Henry) and John Bryant. Lunch came after thirty overs with the score on 99 for 5.

Now lunch is always an important reason to play all-day cricket and James was particularly keen for this one to take on some significance.  With a feast set for at least 40, the 22 Buccaneers tried their best to make in-roads. After and hour and half for lunch with many partaking of port, play was resumed.

Rob turned to the only sober player on his team (his 11-year old nephew, George) to restart proceedings. Various other Rydons tried their arm and along with Will W-D watched as Hobbo and Jeremy, skilfully followed by Steve Brandes (Rhino), smack the ball to most parts of the ground. Another seventy runs off the last ten overs indicated who had won the battle of the lunch. (For the stato’s amongst you 170 for 6 was two runs less than the first innings last year)

And so to the Rydon Royals’ innings.  With young Henry and Alex leading off proceedings, a steady base was established against a tight attack of Richard Manyon and Hobbo. Henry chanced his arm once too often and was stumped by Sujay off Rhino. As father passed son to bat with nephew, the skipper settled down to watching his family tear things apart. But it was not to be as Will played on. Simon Leefe entered the frame and with Alex proceeded to quietly tick off the runs. Youthful exuberance put paid to Alex as he came back for a second that Simon was not up for and so was run out. Will W-D tapped the ball around (playing much more easily when he replaced his cracked bat) but was stumped when trying to up the run rate. Rob joined Simon with ten overs to go and six an over required. The game was evenly balanced. Rob swung a couple of sixes to relieve the pressure and swing the pendulum to the Royals. But then it swung back to the Super Kings as Hobbo strangled Simon down the leg side. Young George walked out to the crease. A swing and a miss. Two overs left and eight runs needed.

Rob discussed with George the necessity of running twos. James discussed with his fielders the necessity of stopping twos. The Rydon running between the wickets was up to it as George scampered back, turning his whites brown as he employed the full dive. So to final over with two needed and George on strike. A confident hit to backward square leg and a scampered single enabled Rob to hit the next ball for four to win the match. Ed, who was next in, proudly clapped his son off the pitch and was heartily joined by mother, grandfather, grandmother, aunts, uncles  and cousins.

The season was put to bed in the adjoining Red Lion and Rob received the Mynott Thimble, with a moustachioed Hack grumbling into to his beer that it wouldn’t have happened on his watch.

Innings of Stringer Super Kings

J Stringer run out 15
Sujay Chakravarti st A Rydon b Woolfries 17
P Hobson ct H Rydon b W Wingfield Digby 71
M Ghatak ct W Rydon b S Leefe 2
Subir Chakravarti b Bryant 1
J Milne ct S Leefe b W Rydon 26
S Brandes not out 23

Extras 13

Total 170-6

1-38 (2), 2-40 (1), 3-49 (4), 4-59 (5), 5-117, 6-170 (3)

R Rydon 8-4-19-0
W Wingfield Digby 7-1-33-1
S Woolfries 6-0-17-1
S Leefe 7-1-27-1
J Bryant 4-1-19-1
W Rydon 4-0-21-1
H Rydon 3-0-13-0
G Rydon 1-0-8-0

Innings of Rydon Royals

H Rydon st Sujay Chakravarti b Brandes 27
A Rydon run out 32
W Rydon b Brandes 2
S Leefe ct Sujay Chakravarti b Hobson 44
W Wingfield Digby st Sujay Chakravarti b Milne 22
R Rydon not out 37
G Rydon not out 2

1-40(1), 2-46 (3), 3-71 (2), 4-113 (5), 5-163 (4)

R Manyon 8-2-28-0
P Hobson 7.2-1-30-1
S Brandes 8-0-42-2
W Okines 8-0-22-0
J Milne 8-0-39-1

On a glorious summer’s afternoon in Henley, the skipper did something right by winning the toss and choosing to bat in this forty over match.

Matt Bennison and Sujay Chakravarti powered ahead, with Matt particularly harsh on anything short. With 60 off ten overs the captain was relatively content apart from the worrying absence of Matt Luxford. Sadly, Sujay was pinned in front and Crispin joined his Cazenove colleague at the crease, but not for long as he missed a straight one soon after. Matt tried to hit a full toss to the longest part of the ground (and failed) for an excellent fifty. So father and son (Jeremy and Ludo Milne) took up the baton and proved a resourceful pairing until Jeremy turned blind for a second run and was sent back by his son. With the turning circle of a small oil tanker, Jeremy failed to reach port and was run out. Ludo hit out and got out after that and it was left to Hobbo and Toby Glover (debuting for the Buccs) to consolidate and then accelerate – which they did. Toby using some agricultural equipment and Hobbo employing the foil. Hobbo did scare a few lunchers in the adjoining pub as he flayed a six over extra cover into the netting over their heads. Rob played and missed at a few and it was left for Warwick Okines (back from the wilderness) to scamper a few in the final overs. Hobbo valiantly went for an extra run off the final ball and fell on his sword for a fine 40 and a total of 191.

After an excellent tea, in which we saw Arsenal score and then concede, the Buccs took to the field with ten fielders under fifty, as Matt Luxford had failed to show up. The skipper bowled a tidy line and picked up both openers and his son, Tom, ran in hard from the other end.  Toby replaced Tom to bowl a fine first spell which bamboozled the oppo and included two wickets.  Rob completed his eight overs, since he was in no condition to come back for a second spell (having foolishly played the day before) and then it was Hobbo’s turn. Medium pace is not a fair description and his slower slow ball is hard to quantify. Anyway he bowled a great four overs. So then to the spinners, Warwick bowling well after a two year break and as is ever the way for leg spinners, failing to get his just rewards. One over had three chances but none were taken. So the rank full toss smacked to Toby at mid wicket was all part of the ying and yang of the universe. This put the brakes on a bit, but Mr Gould was still bashing it to all parts – a six over long on just missing Sujay’s Jaguar was most impressive. Jeremy was spinning it from the other end but the lack of an extra fielder did begin to hurt. Warwick did account for Mr Gould with a caught and bowled but Chappel (T) and Laing steered Henley home with a well paced five an over for the last five overs, winning with four balls to spare.

Innings of Buccaneers

M Bennison                ct Price     b G Chappel       52
S Chakravarti              lbw             G Chappel            21
C Vollers                    bowled        G Chappel          0
J Milne                          run   out                               8
L Milne                      st Gould    b Mandharan      23
P Hobson                    run  out                                40
T Glover                  bowled  Kenworthy           19
R Rydon                  bowled  Laing                     13
W Okines                not out                                 1
T Rydon                  did not bat
M Luxford             did not show up

Total   191

A Chappel  8-1 29-0
Laing   6-0-36-1
G Chappel 8-0-31-3
Kenworthy 8-0-36-1
Price  3-0-19-0
Johnson 3-0-21-0
Mandharan 4-0-10-1

Innings of Henley

Gurung            bowled   R Rydon              4
P Neville          lbw        R Rydon                5
Price                bowled   Glover                27
Johnson          bowled   Glover                  6
Gould             ct & bwld Okines                63
Mandharan    ct Glover b Okines              26
P Chappel       st Chakravarti b Okines      0
T Chappel      not out                                  31
Laing                not out                                 22

Total 195 for 7

R Rydon  8-3-14-2
T Rydon 3-0-16-0
T Glover 7-0-46-2
P Hobson 7.2-0-32-0
W Okines 8-0-46-3
J Milne 6-0-36-0

With two wins from two needed to equal the best season in recent Buccaneers history, the pressure was on debutant captain Vollers to get a result. The XI assembled at Esher for our first ever fixture against the Wanderers and were send out into the field after the captain failed in his main task of the day.

Rydon, bleary-eyed from a Ball the night before, took the cherry from the pavilion end and shared a very tidy opening spell with Harry Mann; 12 overs between them and only 24 on the scoreboard. With a Buccs team full of runs and short on bowling, the first and second change bowlers were key to our day. Warwick had already recounted the story of his debut at Esher where he was slog swept for six into a neighbour’s smart new Porsche. None of that this time however, as he bowled a super 12 over spell, tying down one end either side of lunch and claiming a crucial wicket via a smart boundary catch from Bennison. With Wozza’s tweakers and Hobbo’s dobblers delivered with sustained accuracy, the Wanderers were finding it hard to get the ball off the square and at the halfway stage they were short on runs, but had wickets in hand, and plenty of logoed whites padded up waiting for action.

A breakthrough was needed so the captain threw the ball to the Mann father-son combo. Jim removed opener Balch with a ripsnorter of a delivery, before Harry took the crucial wicket of their ‘biffer’ at No.4 – Bennison again dashing around the rope to snaffle a good catch. If only the rest of the team could have held their catches as he did…plenty hit the turf, and I felt for anyone who’s butter fingers wore the wrath of Hobbo, who deserved more from his 14-2-53-2 spell.

The Wanderers accelerated to a strong score, and after a brief spell of rusty (promising? Ed.) leggies from the captain, they had 243 on the board in their 54 overs.

Kim Ross and James Stringer opened up, and accumulated well in the opening stages against the Wanderer quicks. 50 off the first 15 overs with no loss and the pavilion was buzzing, knowing we had plenty in the hutch to propel us to the target. Enter Taylor – tall left arm spinner. Seven fielders around the bat and darts fired in with vicious turn and bounce. A game changer, and soon Kim (35) and Stringer (13) were back in the pavilion. Bennison entered the minefield with an impressive Buccs average of 50 in his two games for the club. Taylor made sure he departed promptly with a new average of 33. The engine room of Vollers and the Chakravatis provided some resistance, taking the attack to the spin and putting a few to the rope. Sujay (20) was castled and Vollers (41) hauled out, leaving Jim and Subir at the crease. Taylor was removed from the attack and this allowed the Buccs to accelerate towards the target. Game on. The message was clear from the Buccs skipper – we were going for the win. With the required rate down to seven an over and Hobbo, Rydon, Mann Junior ready for action, spirits were lifted…. enter Taylor again. Sigh. Finishing with figures of 7 for 31 off his 12 overs, he removed star man Subir (43), Hobbo and Warwick for quacks, and Harry (3) in quick succession and ended the Buccs hopes of a great victory.

Hopefully the first of many fixtures against the Wanderers. A great day was enjoyed by all.

Innings of Wanderers

C Gill ct Bennison b Okines 20
M Balch ct Ross b J Mann 39
F Spackman not out 80
D Scott ct Bennison b H Mann 37
B Aldridge ct and b Hobson 3
C Parrrish not out 17
Extras 17

Total 243 for 5 dec

R Rydon 6-3-5-0
H Mann 13-3-56-1
P Hobson 14-2-53-2
W Okines 12-2-58-1
J Mann 5-1-29-1
C Vollers 4-0-27-0

Innings of Buccaneers

K Ross st Brocks b Spackman 35
J Stringer ct Spackman b Taylor 13
M Bennison ct Scott b Taylor 0
Sujay Chakravarti b Taylor 20
C Vollers ct Westin-Simons b Balch 48
Subir Chakravarti ct Aldridge b Taylor 43
J Mann ct Brooks b Spackman 31
P Hobson ct Balch b Taylor 0
R Rydon not out 11
H Mann ct Scott b Taylor3
W Okines lbw Taylor 0
Extras 17

Total 214 all out

J Aldridge 6-0-32-0
B Aldridge 7-0-35-0
J Weston-Simons 10-0-30-0
F Spackman 11-2-37-2
D Taylor 12-3-31-7
M Balch 3-0-16-1
C Parrish 3-0-23-0

Buccaneers beat Old Hurstjohnians by 3 wickets

A Buccaneers side boasting 3 Manns, 2 Chakravartis, 2 Leefes, 2 Milnes plus distant cousins Kim Ross and Paul Hobson arrived at a bright and warm Hurstpierpoint College hoping to find the usual hard pitch with good bounce and carry. However, overnight rain had seeped onto the pitch leaving half hard and bouncy and half wet and stodgy.

Buccs stand-in skipper Jim Mann won the toss and chose to bowl, expecting the damp part of the pitch to give the bowlers an advantage before drying out to leave the whole surface hard and bouncy for the chase.

Old Hurstjohnians came out all guns blazing with quick runs before a steady flow of wickets started with a well-judged steepler taken by Ollie Mann at mid on off Hobson, whose trademark variations of pace worked perfectly on the sticky surface.

Harry Mann opened the bowling from the top end with impressive pace and created chances. He took the 2nd wicket with an all-family affair thanks to the safe hands of his wicketkeeping Dad, Jim.  Moulton and Harrison were developing a threatening partnership before the introduction of young legspinner Charlie Leefe who quickly nipped it in the bud with 2 wickets in consecutive overs to put the Buccs in charge at lunch.

The 1st half of the afternoon continued in similar vein with the old boys trying to be aggressive but were repeatedly thwarted by almost flawless Buccs catching. With no fewer than 8 catches safely pouched OHJs were bowled out for a reachable 197.

Following their fine performance in the field, the Buccs had 50 minutes batting before tea. Kim Ross opened up like David Warner cracking 14 in the first over to set his side up for a big win. Supported by the Chakravarti brothers, Ross built a solid platform for the middle order of Jeremy Milne and Simon Leefe to push on towards the target.

An inspiring familial stand between Milne major and minor kept the chase on track, young Ludo stroking a perfectly-paced 49 before being caught at deep midwicket attempting to reach his half century in style. A well-deserved and memorable victory was finally clinched by a huge straight six from Hobson.

Old Hurstjohnians Innings

S Warrener   c O Mann   b Hobson   20

J Pilgrim        c J Mann    b H Mann  21

J Woods        c L Milne    b Hobson  34

B Moulton  st J Mann      b C Leefe  15

M Harrison   c L Milne    b Hobson  26

G Hill             c H Mann   b C Leefe    2

P Masters     not out                         20

M Lowdes     c Hobson   b H Mann   4

S Hall             c Ross        b H Mann  20

P McGallen                      b S Leefe 10

P Hickman   c Hobson    b S Leefe   6

extras                                                  9

Total     (51 overs)                     197

H Mann 14-2-57-3    O Mann 8-2-34-0  Hobson 12-0-44-3  J Milne 5-1-13-0

C Leefe  9-3-21-2    S Leefe 3-0-20-2

Buccaneers Innings

K Ross                     c Warrener b Hickman 31

Sujay Chakravarti              lbw b McGallen 11

Subir Chakravarti              lbw b Harrison    7

J Milne                   c Warrener b Harrison 59

S Leefe                                 lbw b Hickman 17

L Milne                   c Woods      b Hickman 49

J Mann                   not out                              4

O Mann                               c & b Hickman    0

P Hobson               not out                               7

extras                                                              13

Total                                  (7 wkts)         198