Buccaneers Cricket Club

A glorious sunny day greeted us at Hurlingham. Although the wicket was a bit damp – the outfield was its usual fantastic self.

A very potent Buccs opening attack of Luke Radford (12-3-46-4) and Tom Mees (9-5-11-0) reduced the home side to 73-4 and lunch was taken sitting easy. Omar Hatteea (52) struck some decent blows and combined well with Andrew Hethercort (37) to give the Hurlingham middle order some spine. Will Metcalfe (4-58) and Paul Hobson (0-41) bowled some tidy and productive middle overs before Will Noble (2-16) mopped up the tail before a last wicket stand between George Brooksbank (13) and Edward Hyde (21*) made it into an interesting game. The sporting decision not to continue bowling Radford and Mees after lunch meant that the Buccs had a total of 194 to chase.

What ensued can only be described as an onslaught! The Buccs found themselves at 58-9. Brooksbank (7-46) had taken a hat trick, ably assisted by some interesting umpiring decisions. Some strong resistance was provided by Cripsin Voller (24) who saw seven partners come and go. A last wicket stand of 79 starring Paul Hobson (8*) and Tom Mees (58) made for entertaining viewing and dragged the Buccs to a somewhat respectable 136 all out, with Mees only facing 35 balls and Hobbo being more circumspect – facing 52 balls.

In true Buccaneer’s tradition, Paul Hobson showed fine endurance later in the night, when the Kings Road was the victim of his, Ollie Metcalfe and Jim Harcourt’s desire the wash the defeat away with some drinks!

We will return next year to truly twist the knife when it is in. However a great day was had by all in the glorious sunshine.

Innings of Hurlingham

1. S Chapman b L Radford 0
2. H Kennedy c Harcourt b L Radford 22
3. J Atkinson* b L Radford 0
4. A Nethercot c Harcourt L Radford 37
5. J Kennedy b W Metcalfe 20
6. O Hatteea b W Metcalfe 52
7. S Hatteea lbw W Metcalfe 5
8. P Seligman b W Metcalfe 0
9. O Martyn-Hemphill lbw W Noble 4
10. E Hyde not out 21
11. G Brooksbank b W Noble 13

Extras 20

Total 194 all out

FOW 1-5(1), 2-7(3), 3-50(2), 4-73(4), 5-130(5), 6-147(7), 7-149(8), 8-158(9), 9-158(6), 10-194(11)

Bowling

L Radford 12-3-46-4
T Mees 9-5-11-0
P Hobson 12-4-41-0
W Metcalfe 13-2-58-4
W Noble 6-0-16-2
D Russell 2-0-4-0

Innings of Buccaneers

1. V Kandampully c P Seligman b G Brooksbank 2
2. O Metcalfe b G Brooksbank 0
3. C Vollers c S Chapman b J Kennedy 24
4. D Russell lbw G Brooksbank 0
5. J Harcourt+ b G Brooksbank 7
6. L Radford c P Seligman b O Hatteea 7
7. W Noble b G Brooksbank 0
8. W Metcalfe lbw G Brooksbank 0
9. E Cunynghame b G Brooksbank 0
10. P Hobson not out 8
11. T Mees c J Atkinson b S Chapman 58

Extras 30

Total 136 all out

FOW 1-2(1), 2-5(2), 3-5(4), 4-33(5), 5-42(6), 6-43(7), 7-43(8), 8-43(9), 9-58(3), 10-136(11)

Bowling

G Brooksbank 13-1-46-7
O Hatteea 7-1-22-1
J Kennedy 4-1-30-1
J Atkinson 3-0-13-0
S Chapman 1.2-0-18-1

Sunday saw the beautiful Newdigate ground bathed in glorious sunshine and bearing witness to a magnificent Buccs display with bat, ball and the old adage “catches win matches”. Most unusually (and unluckily for Newdigate) not a single catch was put down.

Having won the toss and electing to bat at 2pm; the opening pair of Kim Ross (28) and Sujay ‘The Wall’ Chakravarti started quickly building a partnership of 71 for the first wicket. Sujay (51) was in fine form indeed, playing both with brute force – immediately smashing seven consecutive fours beginning with his third ball – and elegantly – with some Gower-esque late cuts and off drives. However, although both fell to uncharacteristically loose shots, this did not affect the pace of run scoring as the next two batsmen built on the platform. Will Noble (71) combined an array of fine shots all around the ground with rapid running between the wickets. The younger ‘Wall’, Subir Chakravarti (60) played a marvelously measured innings littered with both subtle and attacking stokes [who’s paying for this? Ed].

A fine spell of Newdigate bowling saw Ross take three wickets in five balls: removing the two top run scorers and a previous leading Buccs run scorer for a golden duck (he made up for it later with the gloves and some helpful field repositioning) [seems like quite a few people. Ed]. This briefly slowed the Buccs innings but with cameos from Muktesh Ghatak (10) and not outs from Rob Rydon (6) and Will ‘Beefy’ Metcalfe (for the second match in a row for 18) we easily past the 250 target by 4.30pm.

After tea, Rob ‘The Wineham Express’ Rydon (5-0-19-3) raced down the hill and bowled the first three batsmen in quick succession. The ball hit the top of off stump for his first wicket after “moving it back about three inches”. He was later heard to complain of having no strength in old age as he walked back to his mark. Five balls later he removed the second batsman’s middle stump and sent it cartwheeling at high velocity into the slip cordon causing the keeper and three slips to scatter like crows from a shotgun.
Simon Woolfries took the first of a string of unbelievable catches, a superb effort with his right hand shooting out low and to the right at second slip to remove Newdigate’s number four bat.

Will Metcalfe replaced ‘The Express’ and swung the ball in prodigiously, if a little erratically, to take three good wickets (6-1-36-3). His last wicket was a catch that scythed off the bat and almost into the face of Sujay at first slip who reacted like a pouncing cat, deflecting the ball up into the air and then juggling it to safety with both hands.
Simon Woolfries rolled back the years with a fine display of accurate spin bowling and allowed the current Hon Sec to take a fine running catch.

Simon “The Chinaman” Leefe; experimenting with his new action, bowled well and took two wickets. The first of these was hit high into the sun with Hobson running in from the boundary to dive full length and take the last of the great catches. Simon then finished off the Newdigate innings by clean bowling the last man for a single. A magnificent all round performance to continue the winning start to the season.

Innings of Buccaneers
Kim Ross ct another b Flower 28
Sujay Chakravarti ct another Nix 51
Will Noble ct & b Ross 71
Subir Chakravarti lbw Ross 60
Muktesh Ghatak b Flower 10
Jim Harcourt b Ross 0
Will Metcalfe not out 18
Rob Rydon not out 6
P Hobson did not bat
S Leefe did not bat
S Woolfries did not bat
Extras 15
Total 259 for 6

Bowling
Kris 8-1-32-0
P Bettsworth 4-1-27-0
Flower 8-0-39-2
Rookie 10-0-49-0
Nix 6-0-55-1
Ross 8-0-45-3

Innings of Newdigate
P Bettsworth b Rydon 13
J Penfold b Rydon 0
M Rance b Rydon 2
D Drew ct Woolfries b Hobson 4
A Roast b Metcalfe 12
Lee lbw Metcalfe 4
R Witrangasinga ct Sujay Chakravati b Metcalfe 47
J Bowley not out 2
Nix ct Rydon b Woolfries 8
Kris ct Hobson b Leefe 5
R Flower b Leefe 1
Extras 17
Total 115 all out

Bowling
Rob Rydon 5-0-19-3
Paul Hobson 6-2-14-1
Will Metcalfe 6-1-36-3
Simon Leefe 6.1-0-40-2
Simon Woolfries 2-0-2-1

Despite dire warnings from the Met Office about the likelihood of getting the season up and running, a Buccs team, including two debutants in Vic Kandampully and Ollie Metcalfe enjoyed the best of the conditions at Forest Row on Sunday. With the wicket – a significant eight yards more central than last year – damp but playable, skipper Stringer chose to bat, on the principle that more rain was forecast.

Opening up with debutant Kandampully and Sujay ‘the wall’ Chakravarti, the Buccs quickly lost Vic to early season enthusiasm. Tidy opening spells by Watson and De Souza kept the lid on the scoring while the Buccs lost regular wickets. The younger Chakravarti succumbed for 7, while Sujay (27), Paul Hobson (21) and Jim Mann (17) built useful partnerships in what was not easy batting conditions. Then the heavens opened, play was delayed for 30 minutes and tea was taken. On the resumption Muktesh Ghatak, Ollie Metcalfe and Simon Leefe threatened to score quick and useful runs, but without sawdust to help, the wicket started resembling a mudbath. However, mudlark Will Metcalfe proved his all round talents with a clean hitting 34 not out and with the skipper batted out the revised total of 35 overs to post 168 for eight wickets.

To restrict Forest Row to just 93 in their 35 overs required high-quality bowling and very strong outfield cricket. With Richard Manyon going at two an over and Will Metcalfe at even less, the Row soon found themselves facing a very tough task. This increased as Hobson (7-3-13-3) and ‘Nissan’ Leefe applied the tourniquet even tighter, supported by strong ground fielding from Kandampully and Ghatak in particular. It was somewhat surprising that the Row at no point tried to hit the panic button, but instead, with Mann and Ollie Metcalfe also bowling tidily, the game was over as a contest not long after half way.

Innings of Buccaneers

Victor Kandampully ct another b De Souza 4
Sujay Chakravarto b Holmes 27
Subir Chakravarti b De Souza 7
Paul Hobson ct wkt b Ellis 21
Jim Mann ct another b Ellis 17
Muktesh Ghatak ct another b Ellis 6
Ollie Metcalfe run out 6
Simon Leefe ct another b Symons 5
Will Metcalfe not out 34
James Stringer not out 16
Richard Manyon did not bat

Extras 25
Total 168-8 (35 overs)

Bowling
Walsom 4-0-14-0
De Souza 5-2-6-2
Franklin 5-0-31-0
Holmes 4-0-24-1
Mason 4-1-11-0
B Ellis 5-0-17-3
Symons 3-1-11-1
S Ellis 3-0-26-0

Innings of Forest Row

Holmes b Hobson 24
Symons ct Ghatak b W Metcalfe 5
Gilmour ct Stringer b Hobson 5
S Ellis b Hobson 0
De Souza not out 31
Mason b O Metcalfe 14
B Ellis not out 5

Extras 9
Total 93-5 (35 overs)

Bowling

Richard Manyon 7-2-14-0
Will Metcalfe 7-0-10-1
Paul Hobson 7-3-13-3
Simon Leefe 7-3-10-0
Jim Mann 4-0-2-0
Ollie Metcalfe 3-0-24-1

Over 40 Buccaneers enjoyed a convivial evening at the 84th Annual Dinner, held at the East India Club in St James’s on Wednesday 26th February, which followed the now traditional pre-Dinner AGM.

At the AGM, the club welcomed new Committee members Subir Chakravarti, Paul Hobson and Simon Leefe and thanked Adam Wyartt for his previous service.

Buccaneers and guested enjoyed the traditional Dinner fare, topped as ever by syrup sponge pudding and ‘creme anglaise (old boy)’.

After dinner, President Simon Woolfries was delighted to announce that Sujay Chakravarti was the 2013 winner of the Geoffrey Moore Award for his commitment throughout the season with the bat, ball and gauntlets. His mileage on the Jag also suffered.

Andrew Miller, fellow Buccaneer and Editor of The Cricketer responded to the toast of cricket. ‘Funky’ explained how he had broken into the hallowed world of cricket hackdom via Pakistan and bacon sandwiches, as well as choosing in his speech to lead a spirited defence of KP. His stand on this subject ensured he had to survive a barrage of bouncers from a number of fellow diners who all chose to come off their long runs. He left in slightly better shape than Piers Morgan managed in Aus. The Committee would like to thank Andrew for agreeing to speak.

Who tops the batting and bowling averages for 2013?

To see full details of the season and see favourites for the Geoffrey Moore Award at the Annual Dinner, download the averages by clicking here.

The Committee is delighted to announce that the 84th Annual Club Dinner will be held at
The East India Club, 16 St James’s Square, London SW1Y 4LH, on Wednesday  26^th February, 2014.

Andy Miller, Editor of The Cricketer (right)

Pre-dinner drinks will be from 6.30pm, where a complimentary cask of ale will be served. The AGM will also start at 6.30pm (all are welcome). Dinner will begin at 8.00pm, and will be followed by our star guest speaker, Andy Miller, Editor of The Cricketer, regular broadcaster and fellow Buccaneer.

To reserve your place, and those of the guests whom you are strongly encouraged to bring, please download and complete the order linked here.

All 22 Buccaneers assembled for an 11.00am start, but there was no grounds man to open the pavilion and provide the stumps. After a hasty phone call and minor heart palpitations from James, order was restored and the first ball was delivered at 11.30am at Betchworth.

Richard Manyon tore in from the wood end and accounted for Sujay very quickly and then Matt Luxford (who may not have remembered much of his innings as he was still enjoying the previous night’s party). The quality of Will and Mel started to shine through, but an all run four was Mel’s undoing as he spooned one to mid off and was shocked to see Andy Close hang on to it. Patrick Hole enacted a brief (very brief) cameo role and before the Royals knew it they were four down (all due to Mr Manyon). The senior pro, in the form of Andy Morgan, steadied the ship and a strong partnership changed the face of the game. Will controlled proceedings (an impressive 80 not out) and when Andy departed, Muktesh took up the challenge which included an entertaining two runs to first slip. The forty overs were up with 172 on the board, which Rob, the skipper, thought was just above par.

And so to the Stringer Superkings innings. Leading from the front was James partnered by Pratik (who made a mighty fine impression of Virender Sehwag). It was just like old times with Hole dropping a catch in the slips off Rob. No such let off for James when he swung one of Alok’s deliveries to Mel. Kim started rather scratchily and was dropped twice by the two best fielders out there, but then started to show his class. Pratik was caught over the shoulder off Will and Subir didn’t stay much longer than his brother. With Kim and Jim at the crease, the runs steadily started to flow and things looked rather bleak for the Royals until the old campaigner was brought back. Rob accounted for Kim and then Jim and then gallantly allowed Will to come on and clean up the tail. There may have been a triple wicket maiden in there (Rhino, Closey and Hack). Richard M hit a few lusty blows but died by the sword. The total was being chased down with seven balls left, but the coup de grace summed up the day nicely with Hobbo being dropped on the boundary, and Adam being run out as the throw came in. Plenty of beer flowed in the Red Lion as the season was put to a close.

Man of the match: Will Noble (just). ‘Thanks for coming award’: everyone else.

Umpires: D Goulstone and J Marsh

R Rydon’s XI (Rydon’s Royals)

Matt Luxford ct Ross b Manyon 18
Sujay Chakravarti b Manyon 0
Mel Ragnuath ct A Close b Manyon 22
Will Noble not out 80
Patrick Hole b Manyon 4
Andy Morgan ct Hobson b Brandes 24
Muktesh Ghatak b Hobson 10
Rob Rydon not out 1
Extras 6
Total 172 for 6 (40 overs)

Bowling

Richard Manyon 9-0-25-4
Adam Wyartt 5-0-23-0
Paul Hobson 15-3-48-1
Pratik Patel 7-0-45-0
Steve Brandes 4-0-26-0

Innings of James Stringer’s XI (Stringer’s Superkings)

Pratick Patel ct Ragnauth b Noble 31
James Stringer ct Ragnauth b Rege 8
Kim Ross ct Morgan b Morgan b Rydon 66
Subir Chakravarti lbw Noble 3
Jim Harcourt ct Noble b Rydon 15
Paul Hobson not out 12
Steve Brandes ct Morgan b Noble 7
Andy Close stumped Luxford b Noble 0
Richard Gwynn ct Luxford b Noble 0
Richard Manyon b Noble 6
Adam Wyartt run out 1
Extras 7
Total 156 all out (39 overs)

Bowling

Rob Rydon 10-1-39-2
Alok Rege 6-0-20-1
Will Noble 10-3-27-6
John Bryant 4-0-24-0
Simon Woolfries 9-0-45-0

Buccaneers 227-7 (40 overs) beat Henley 214 (38.2 overs) by 13 runs