Buccaneers Cricket Club

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                        

After weeks of baking weather, the Buccs arrived at a cloudy but warm Lindfield with the wicket looking more like Chennai than West Sussex. Skipper James Stringer was disappointed to lose the toss but then immediately pleased to have been asked to bat. Leading a team made up almost entirely of professionals or those who ‘support’ them, Kim Ross (accountant) and Buccaneer debutant James Smith (management consultant) opened up in a pleasing fashion, surviving only a single scare (Smith dropped at second slip off the brisk Pedley) to pass 50. They looked in little danger until Smith inexplicably lofted a drive to be caught by O’Brien for 51. Fellow debutant Soumak Bose joined Ross, but their stand was in its infancy when Ross was bowled by Britton for 21. Disappointingly, Alexander Rydon was barely settling in when a calling mix up, mixed with a suicidal run, cut down the flower of Buccaneers’ youth for 3. Soumak, after hitting several lusty blows, was next out for 15. Ollie Metcalfe and James Stringer came together and Stringer was easing in, when for the first time in his career, he was out trod on wicket while leg glancing for 6.  Northern grit was needed to shore up the defences and the pride of Yorkshire (Metcalfe Major and Minor) mixed fraternal telepathy (to run some very sharp singles) with some rasping drives. Will was out for 18. With the three B’s – Brandes, Bjorn and Bryant chipping in to support Ollie (45), the Buccs finished at 201 all out off 39.1 overs.

After a typically generous tea, the Buccs took the field, confident that five an over would be a testing challenge for the young Lindfield side. Rydon conceding only 18 from his 7.2 overs and Will Metcalfe (2-45) administered the tourniquet, as the talented Lawrence, with support from Sage and Clark, struggled to get the new ball away. With good support in the field from a predominantly mobile fielding side, Buccs continued to refuse to give much away. Debutant Bjorn (who could surely have represented Sweden (Ed)?), bowled his first spell for the club with a tidy (but unlucky) return of 1 for 27. His figures weren’t helped by a disappointing drop from the skipper, but the miss didn’t cost the side too much as rubber-limbed Will Metcalfe clung on shortly afterwards to dismiss Lawrence for 35. ‘Rhino’ Brandes continued with the pressure bowling, giving little away, to finished with figures of 2 for 40. He was joined by his spin twin John Bryant, who quickly snaffled two wickets with one that genuinely turned and the other which allowed the skipper to redeem himself by clinging on to one. Meanwhile, Lindfield had decided that now was the time that they had to try and get the total and despite a required rate of 10, their Manhattan was beginning to resemble Midtown. Rydon Dad and lad responded, after a number of dry runs, combining to effect a sharp run out of Amerio. Buccs nerves were still gangling when Rydon and Smith were invited to snuff out the Lindfield rearguard. Smith, who hadn’t bowled for seven years, proved to have ice in his veins. Rydon began where he left off and ended the game with a swoop, pick up, swivel and shy at the stumps which left Booth several yards short. Buccaneers won by 21 runs and it was great to have some talented new players representing the club as well as strong showings from the 50 and overs.

Innings of Buccaneers

K Ross st Jake Brookes   b   Joshua Britton 21
J Smith ct Matt O’Brien  b   Sean Sage 51
S Bose st Jake Brookes  b   Joshua Britton 15
A Rydon run out  3
O Metcalfe bowled Daniel Booth 45
J Stringer* hit wicket b Daniel Booth 6
R Rydon bowled Daniel Booth 6
W Metcalfe bowled Daniel Booth 18
S Brandes bowled Daniel Booth 2
F Bjorn  ct Geoffrey Lawrence b Scott Pedley 4
J Bryant not out 0
Byes (1), Leg Byes (14), Wides (11), No Balls (4)
Extras 30

Total      201 all out
Overs    39.1

Bowling

Scott Pedley       8-1-35-1
Luke Amerio      4-0-30-0
Joshua Britton   8-0-41-2
Sean Sage           7-2-20-1
Alex Clark            2-0-5-0
Daniel Booth      7.1-1-30-5
Kieran Cummins 2-0-14-0
Josh O’Brien       1-0-11-0

Innings of Lindfield

Geoffrey Lawrence ct W Metcalfe b F Bjorn 35
Sean Sage lbw b O Metcalfe 2
Alex Clark bowled W Metcalfe 5
Jake Brookes+ bowled S Brandes 22
Josh O’Brien bowled J Bryant 22
Kieran Cummins bowled S Brandes 7
Joshua Britton ct J Stringer b J Bryant 24
Scott Pedley run out (J Bryant)22
Matt O’Brien* not out 18
Luke Amerio run out (R Rydon) 2
Daniel Booth run out (R Rydon) 1

Byes (2), Leg Byes (2), Wides (15), No Balls (1)
Extras    20

Total      180         all out
Overs    38.2

R Rydon 7.2-2-18-0
W Metcalfe 8-2-45-2
F Bjorn  8-1-27-1
S Brandes 8-1-40-2
J Bryant 4-0-25-2
S Bose 1- 0-10-0
J Smith  2-0-11-0

Another glorious day as the wonderful Oxford Downs CC welcomed the Buccs. With the various attractions going on, including holidays and the Test match, a make shift side lost the toss and took the field. A hostile opening spell from Rob Rydon was well countered by the two opening bats French and Wilson, attacking anything full or short with gusto. This included a lost ball into the new housing estate off a Rydon bouncer. 

The introduction of captain Noble slowed both the run rate and ball speed. With three economical wickets before lunch, in tandem with Jones, and subsequently through Hamish Robertson, the rest of the Downs’ innings slowed to a crawl. Nick and Hamish both bowled very well, with some very attacking and inventive fields (I think the skipper wrote this, ed.) to try and move the game along. The long afternoon eventually saw the innings chug to a close with skipper Tom Welch 48 not out and a declaration of 212 for 6. 

In an almost identical fashion to last year, the Buccs reply progressed easily to the forties without loss, led by Sujay and Jones on debut. Some hostile bowling was resolutely defended. The introduction of Sandbach, in his eighth decade then proceeded to rip the heart of the Buccs strong batting line up of Hay (overseas from Canberra), the raconteur Harcourt and Noble all succumbing to his gentle swing. Only the excellent intervention of Ollie Robertson and Rob Rydon saw a defeat averted with Rob even unfurling some typical counter attacking strokes to continue his fine form with the bat this year. 

Innings of Oxford Downs

J French ct Hay b Jones 52
H Wilson ct Chakravarti b Noble 21
M Hunt ct Harcourt b Noble 1
T Welch not out 48
I Frelie ct Harcourt b Noble 2
W Watts b Jones 23
G Stevens b Robertson 14
W Khan not out 24

Extras 20
Total 212 for 6 dec

Bowling

Rydon 14-0-52-0
B Hay 5-1-15-0
W Noble 9-3-28-3
N Jones 15-2-56-2
H Robertson 14-1-61-1

Innings of Buccaneers

Sujay Chakravarti b Watts 20
N Jones b Watts 22
B Hay b Sandbach 15
O Robertson ct b O Watts 16
J Harcourt st b Sandbach 2
N Robertson b Sandbach 12
A Rydon b W Watts 0
W Noble lbw Sandbach 3
R Rydon not out 26
H Robertson not out 0

Extras 10
Total 126-8

A Khan 6-1-30-1
O Watts 8-0-22-1
W Watts12-4-26-2
G Sandbach 12-2-38-4

The fact that the Buccaneers turned out an eleven last Sunday and even found a player for the Gentlemen of Suffolk, was largely thanks to great support from Peter Boughton (with two local players) and Vic Kandampully, who heroically drove up from Canary Wharf at short notice with two willing mates.

Come Sunday morning though it looked like these efforts would be washed out by persistent rain. However, the pitch was covered and FramlinghamCollege has a fast drying ground, so a 30 overs-a-side match finally got under way at 2:40. Mark Nicholls lost the toss but seemed very happy for the Buccs to bat first and give those who had travelled some time at the crease.

Local guest David Searle was aggressive from the outset and Vic at the other end soon got into his stride so that 53 was posted for the first wicket at a good rate. Sujay Chakravarti was shaping well at number 3 when he became the unfortunate victim of a calling cock up and was run out with the total at 100. Brother Subir went in and, with Vic going well, thoughts of a competitive score approaching 200 were being voiced in the pavilion. All too premature, of course!

Vic departed at 131 for a fine 77 but then the innings stalled for a few overs, which is not healthy in a 30 overs match. The final total of 167 for 5 was the bare minimum on a benign pitch. Stuart was the pick of the Gents’ bowlers with 3 maidens in his 6 overs.

The Gents rather unsportingly sent in their young guns first and they hungrily tucked into bowling which was more quizzical than questioning and “supported” by fielding too often of the non-bending or throwing variety! A complete ten wicket thrashing looked on the cards until Searle was introduced to the attack and brought a degree of control with his accurate off-breaks. Will Nicholls departed for 57 with the total at 110 and then J.Kerr followed having made an attractive 60; both stumped by Andy Morgan off Searle.

Ben Butcher (from Vic’s car) returned to the School end and commanded some respect with his brand of flatter off-spin and a close finish looked possible, particularly as Searle claimed a third victim. However, the required rate never climbed enough to put the experienced pair of Ian Collett and Roger Luxmore-Styles under real pressure. These two saw the Gents home with 3.4 overs to spare and if Ian had been held in the deep when he first started to apply the long handle, it probably would not have changed the outcome. 

Result  –  Gentlemen of Suffolk won by 7 wickets.

Innings of Buccaneers

D.Searle                    29
V.Kandampully         77
Sujay Chakravarti      10
Subir Chakravarti       25 n.o.
M.Ghatak                     6
R.Elston                       8
A.Morgan                     5 n.o.
Extras                            7
Total                              167 for 5

Gents Bowling

Stuart                      6-3-15-0
A.Kerr                    5-0-39-1
R.Luxmore-Styles  7-1-45-1
S.Willis                   7-0-36-1
Wilkinson               5-0-25-1

 Innings of Gents of Suffolk

J.Kerr                            60
W.Nicholls                    57
I.Collett                         24 n.o.
J.Smith                          14
R.Luxmore-Styles         10 n.o
Extras                              5

Total                               170 for 3

Buccaneers Bowling

R.Elston                   4-1-21-0
H.Wilkinson             3-0-23-0
B.Butcher                 8-0-37-0
J.Bryant                    3-0-28-0
S.Woolfries              2-0-16-0
D.Searle                6.2-1-41-3

Overcast conditions greeted a Buccaneers team reduced to 10 due to the late withdrawal of a key player.  Electing to field, Richard Manyon (increasingly resembling Angus Fraser) had the Reigate openers hopping with some steep bounce, resulting in the early wicket of Janardanan – gloved through to the keeper.

Fraser (Manyon) threatened repeatedly to take more wickets on a sporty deck, when disaster struck, and he had to limp off with a tweaked ‘hammie’ in his eighth over. Further hampered by less economical bowling from the returning Andrews, the Chakravarti Brothers (joint skippers on the day and not a Bollywood comedy act) were left searching for options. This came in the form of surprise package Navneet Kokri who captured two wickets with testing and accurate bowling. Combined with steady spells from the experienced pair of Jeremy Milne and the Richard Ul-Hack ensured that the Buccs retired pleasantly for lunch with the honours even at 89 for 3 off 29 overs.

Resuming after the break, the wily Simon Woolfries produced an impressive spell to wrest control of the game momentarily the Buccs’ way (with figures of 4-55). However with the Buccs in the ascendency at 130 for 5, enter Guy “The Gorilla or Flintoff” Mitchell. Aided by a couple of dropped catches, he produced some lusty blows  – narrowly missing the trampoline in the neighbouring garden. His dismissal for a very quick 60 signalled the declaration.

Set a challenging 213 for victory on a still sporty wicket, the Buccs got off to a nerve-reducing start with James Stringer, 27, and Shane Andrews, 30, producing a solid opening stand of 65. However, they fell in quick succession and faced with a rising asking rate, Naveen who scored 5, quickly followed. When Jeremy departed for a stylish 23, Muktesh Ghatak joined Sujay “The Wall” Chakravarti in the middle with 111 still required off a reasonable 16 overs. However with only two “fit” batsman to follow, the pair decided to pull down the shutters, appropriately for Sunday trading. A dour (I think Subir must have written this – Ed.) 63 run unbeaten partnership – with Ghatak contributing the few bright spots when he lashed Mitchell several times over midwicket – followed, with the Buccs ending on a commendable but ultimately disappointing 162 for 5. Once again Mitchell was the difference between the sides. Any chance of a pedalo the night before next year?

Scorecard

Reigate Pilgrims

S Burgess c Sujay Chakravarti b N Kokri 25
R Janardanan c Sujay Chakravarti b R Manyon 4
P Sakia c Subir Chakravarti b S Woolfries 39
R Burnside c Subir Chakravarti b N Kokri 5
S Hawkins c Sujay Chakravarti b S Woolfries 42
D Kanagarajah lbw S Woolfries 1
G Mitchell c N Kokri b S Woolfries 60
M Nichols not out 13

Fall of Wickets
1-12, 2-62, 3-85, 4-122, 5-130, 6-162, 7-212.

Total 212-7 wickets off 55.1 overs

Bowling
R Manyon 7.2-0-24-1
S Andrews 5-0-23-0
R Gwynn 9-3-32-0
N Kokri 8.4-0-51-2
J Milne 13-4-26-0
S Woolfries 12.1-1-55-4

Buccaneers

J Stringer c Burgess b Arnold 27
S Andrews b P Sakia 30
J Milne c P Sakia b Janardanan 23
N Kokri c Janardanan b Burgess 5
Sujay Chakravarti not out 30
M Ghatak not out 30

Fall of Wickets
1-65, 2-67, 3-88, 4-102

Total 165-4 off 49 overs

Bowling
M Wood   8-2-24-0
P Periasogmy  5-0-18-0
G Mitchell   11-3-25-0
P Sakia  9-1-28-1
G Arnold  6-1-15-1
R Janardanan  4-0-15-1
S Hawkins  4-0-23-1
R Burnside 2-0-7-0