Buccaneers Cricket Club

Buccaneers (177-6) beat Lindfield (176-6 dec) by 4 wickets

Report by Adam Wyartt

The schoolboy error of informing the team in advance of a possible 12th man resulted in the predictable last minute flurry of unavailability. However, Rob Rydon and Sandy Henderson stepped into the breach meaning the Buccs turned up at this rather poignant fixture with a full and not unexciting XI.

A hot day and a pitch like a teenager’s face would have suggested having a bat but the skipper’s inexperience with the coin made this moot and we were asked to field by the unquestionably Australian Brett Silvey.

Having been advised that Lindfield’s batting was not at its strongest, Adam Wyartt decided to take the new ball with left-arm spinner Simon Leefe for Health & Safety reasons. After a flurry of stylish runs from the youthful Lindfield openers as Lawrenson and Pinnard demonstrated their ability to look after themselves, normal service was resumed with Rydon let loose to hurtle down the hill and deliver his trademark “unplayable venom”. Although certainly a handful and perhaps too good to find the edge, Rydon remained tight but wicketless. Both openers made 50 and Lindfield were looking set for a big total.

Inexplicably absent from Buccaneer duty for too long, up stepped Steve “the Rhino” Brandes to turn the game on its horned head. Two wickets in 2 balls from Rhino set the tone for an ‘all-grey, er, spearhead’ to disrupt Lindfield’s innings with faultless length and daring flight. John Bryant joined the Rhino with judicious offspin and was also soon in the wickets as was President Woolfries with his own brace. Brett Silvey’s end-of-innings cameo was briefly explosive and the declaration was made following a failed reverse sweep at 176 in 47 overs.   

The skipper proudly unleashed Kimbo Ross and the Very Reverend James Stringer with the willow and the innings progressed slowly but surely as youthful arms tunred over. But the shock dismissal of Ross for 16 with a edge to the lightning right hand of Silvey at slip unnerved the Buccs and Stringer soon followed for 17.

Rydon was all dash and swagger as he and John ‘ Stubbsie’ Steele (26) steadied the ship and injected some urgency into the run chase. However, Pinnard continued to pose problems and Steele was soon replaced by David West, who, perhaps jaded from his previous night’s antics, soon departed for 9.  Happily, Rydon remained in fine fettle, stroking magnificently and occasionally piercing the filed to close in on the target with the able assistance of Leefe.

But the overs ticked by and heart leapt into mouths when Pinnard dismissed Rydon for 61. Woolfries came and went for 1 but Leefe (18 not out) was not to be denied as he and superstar cry-on Henderson (5 not out) carried the Buccaneers over the line with an over and a ball to spare.

Hurlingham 307-7 dec (55 overs), Buccaneers 225

A sunny day greeted the Buccaneers at Hurlingham and, with a gorgeous-looking pitch in the middle of the square offering the prospect of a feast of runs, the Buccaneeers opted to chase rather then set a target.  A good game at Hurlingham sets up a target of 160 off the last 20 overs and this was exactly what the Buccaneers required  but with only 3 wickets in hand.

With the home side filled their boots in the morning with Marlborough schoolboy Logan  reaching a fluent century well before lunch which was taken at a mountainous 179 when Razvi was acrobatically caught by Dave West for 48.

Logan fell for an impressive 136 soon after the interval when a Herculean effort from Andy Owen (19-3-109-2) and controlled economy from Simon Woolfries (15-0-53-3) kept tthe Buccaneers in the game. After their top 3 had gone, Hurlingham’s batting cupboard looked a tad bare but they were able to set a fair declaration at 307-7 after 55 overs.

Nick Cross (32) and Will Noble (42) were going nicely but when their stand ended, the Buccaneers stumbled from 86-1 to 152-7 before skipper Ed Cunynghame (40) and Sathish Subbiah (52) mounted an inspirational revival which reduced the target to double digits. But once this paid were parted, the end came quickly and the Buccaneers were done for a disappointing 225.

However, the result couldn’t entirely overshadow another glorious day at The Hurlingham Club where the sumptuous hospitality and relaxing ambience was enjoyed as much as th spirit in which the game was played.

Gents of Suffolk 285-6 dec (54 overs)

J. Scowshill 100 n.o. R. Lugmoore-Styles 70, A.Hussey 49, D.Fenwick-Clemmell 32

S.Woolfries 2-49, R.Elston 1-15, P.Moore 1-21, A.Wyartt 1-29, M.Scowshill 1-40

Buccaneers 235-9 (41 overs)

W. Farr 65, M.Scowshill 38, S.Blackman 37, R.Elston 27, P. Moore 26, A.Morgan 20

Sir Ian Collett Bart 4-32, R. Lugmoore-Styles 2-62, J.Scowhill 1-23, N. Fenwick-Clemmell 1-51

Report from Framlingham College by S.A. Woolfries

Down the ages a posting to the eastern front has not been very popular and this still proves to be the case with London-based Buccaneers. Special Forces were therefore required for this year’s match against the Gents of Suffolk. Chief recruiting sergeant Will Farr did his stuff by drafting in three of his Essex club, Aythorpe Roding, to augment two local lads, four old-time Buccs sweats and…a Naval Commander. Did I mention that one of Will’s platoon was a former Jamaica and Essex fast bowler?

Gents skipper Mark Nicholls performed his most important, and only, act for his side at 11.25am by winning the toss and choosing to bat on the usual Framlingham featherbed. Up the hill Joe Grant took a few very stiff-looking deliveries to crank it up and had this season’s new slimline model Andrew Morgan making several diving saves.In between there were some testing deliveries and some ‘chin music’.

However, down the hill Adam Wyartt was finding appreciable swing and first blood went to him as Sheldon was bowled by a perfect in-ducker. A. Hussey and C. Budenberg proceeded to cope well with Joe’s pace and it was, in fact, the bustling medium pace of Richard Elston which accounted for the latter. Some leg spin from Suffolk under-15 captain Monty Scowshill produced a 3rd pre-lunch wicket when Hussey went for 49 to leave Gents lunching on 135-3.

After lunch the Buccs went through their full array of bowling including another hostile spell from Joe, this time down the hill. However, Lugmoore-Styles and Scowshill senior dealth with everything in some style and put together the stand of the match, only broken when Lugmoore-Styles was bowled by the Buccs skipper for 70. Jeremy Scowshill went on to complete a fine century just before the declaration at 285 for 6. This asked the Buccs to score at about 7 an over to win and the general feeling was that this was ‘on’.

Sam Blackman and Monty Scowshill started steadily so that the chase looked in good shape at tea after which the job was about 210 to win in 40 minutes plus 20 overs with all wickets intact.

Nicholls, Napoleonically, then threw in his ‘old guard’ in the shape – and there is quite a lot of shape these days – of Sir Ian Collett,Bart. and Steve Willis. Monty chipped one back to Ian for 38 allowing Commander Piers Moore to steam to the wicket and loose off a few broadsides before, inexplicably, missing a waist-high full toss.

When Framlingham coach Martin Webdale went first ball to Collett things looked a bit rocky for the Buccs. Will Farr, however, was playing sensibly and Richard Elston made some quick runs before playing ambitiously across the line. Will needed some support so heads dropped when Joe Grant swung at and missed a….waist high full toss!

A final flicker of hope was raised as Will took 16 runs from an over but when Andy Morgan fell for 20 it became a question of saving the game. Will top-scored with 65 but if the Buccs were to have won one of the top order needed to make good runs as well.

In sunny but blustery conditions on a second day pitch more usually seen in Madras than Midhurst and post an animated discussion regarding the format of the game, the Buccs won the toss and decided to have first use of the only new ball on offer. Stringer led a side mimicking the strategy employed so successfully by Warwickshire in the mid-90s, packed as it was with ‘bits-and-pieces’ all rounders and devilish fielders.

Opening up with Wyartt (Cowdray House End) and Gwynn (now abbreviated) (Round House End), both delivered tidy opening spells with Gwynn picking up the wicket of Kemp. David West and Sandy Henderson, both were making their first appearances of the season, continued to bowl tidily, with Henderson in particular throttling the scoring with his mix of cutters, sliders and move-both-wayers to return 2-21 from his seven overs. Aggressive hitting from May (43) and Fourre (22) pushed the rate on, but then came a series of excellent catches to nip the resurgence in the bud. First was Wyartt’s steepler at deep mid-wicket in the swirling breeze (all agreed rather him than us) to remove Fourre. Then came Steve (Rhino) Brandes’ champagne moment with a one-handed leaping pouch to dismiss a bemused Moon, without scoring.

Despite tight and effective bowling from Leefe (3-20) and early man of the match candidate Brandes (2-27), Midhurst posted a useful total of 158 from their 40 overs on a wicket that was beginning to turn appreciably.

After an excellent tea – the quality of the cakes being particularly noted, the Buccs opened up with an experimental opening partnership of Gwynn and Hole. Neither now known for their athleticism, it was a trip too far down memory lane, to expect the other to cover the 22 yards in the three seconds required to complete the ambitious run. Needless to say they didn’t, and Gwynn was run out for 3. Hole looked like a man who was determined to make up for the error until he played round a straight one. Normal service looked like being resumed as Steele, continuing his strong recent form and Bradford pushed the scoring on. Once again the bowlers started to throttle the scoring, with some useful junior leg spin on show and with the wicket drying further allied to the now very old Newbury ball, stroke play became increasingly difficult. Leefe, Henderson and Brandes fell in quick succession. Stringer nursing a badly bruised leg from a gardening injury kept himself in reserve but was eventually forced to leave the hutch. His strokeplay was not aided by a torn calf muscle in the other leg that came on during the match but with the support of a runner in Henderson attempted a Gordon Greenidge like rearguard. Alas it was a push too far, and despite Stringer’s slogging and West’s clean hitting, the Buccs fell 21 runs short.

Innings of Midhurst

Davis – run out 20

Kemp – ct Stringer b Gwynn 1

May LBW Henderson 43

Fourre ct Wyartt b Henderson 22

Noon ct Brandes b Leefe 0

Leegool st Stringer b Leefe 10

Cowell b Brandes 15

Cox ct ? b Woolfries 22

Reid ct Brandes b Leefe 0

Green b Brandes 0

West not out 13

Extras 12

Total 158 all out

Wyartt 7-1-34-0

Gwynn 6-2-15-1

West 4-1-21-0

Henderson 7-2-21-2

Brandes 8-2-27-2

Leefe 6-1-20-3

Woolfries 2-0-11-1

Innings of Buccaneers

Hole b May 18

Gwynn run out 3

Steele b Reid 16

Bradford ct Leegool b Kemp 15

Leefe ct Cowell b Kemp 2

Henderson ct&b Reid 11

Stringer ct Leegool b Fourre 41

Brandes ct West b Reid 0

Woolfries b Cox 5

West ct May b Cowell 17

Wyartt not out 0

Extras 9

Total 137 all out

May 8-1-22-1

Green 8-0-35-0

Reid 8-2-9-3

Kemp 5-0-21-2

Cox 8-1-31-1

Cowell 2-0-10-1

Fourre 0.1.-0-0-1

Buccaneers beat Hoddesdon by 7 wickets

Kim Ross  battled through the perils of the North Circular and last ditch cry-offs to lead the Buccaneers to their most satisfying victory for many a moon on Sunday with the most impressive match-winning century by a debutant match manager within living memory. 

Reinforcing the old adage that the Buccaneers are strong when South Africa are strong, this thrilling run chase was signed, sealed and delivered entirely by men from the land that gave us Trott, Pietersen, Prior & Strauss.  

After Warwick Okines’ new career as an opening bat was rudely interrupted by a jaffer from Davis, Scott Power lived up to his Hollywood heritage with a muscular display of quality strokeplay in an exciting  stand of 144 with his skipper. There seemed no reason why this pair shouldn’t win the game on their own on a decent pitch and a parched, bumpy outfield. But Power unaccountably missed an arm-ball from Curtis to be bowled for a fine 80.  Paul Larkin helped add another 20 before being adjudged lbw.

Ross Smyth then kept Ross company in an increasingly urgent partnership. As the overs ticked by, the running became more frantic, the fielding more desperate and Ross more inventive with his trademark range of cuts. With the target just a boundary away and the great left-hander on 99, Smyth almost spoiled the party with clog to leg. Happily square leg grabbed it and gave Ross the chance to seal his 2nd century of the weekend and a great win with 9 balls to spare.

However, this victory had been set up by the bowling of in-form off-breaker Simon Woolfries (3-30) and high class left-arm spinner Power (2-46) who put a brake of Hoddesdon’s headlong charge and restricted the target to reachable proportions.

Hoddesdon’s openers had made a flying start on a hard pitch against two of their own youngsters who had been kindly lent to the Buccaneers. Having reached 61 in 10 overs, young Andrews was dazzlingly caught high in the gully by Woolfries off Maughan. Power then bowled the dangerous Purves at the same score.

But Curtis and Handy continued the onslaught until Larkin unexpectedly bowled Handy and had Walters caught off a high full toss first ball. Power then bowled Walters for a duck and the Buccaneers were back in business at 113-5.  But, accompanied by the disconcertingly confident young Fryers, Curtis cracked on and looked like setting a tall total until he was crucially deceived by Woolfries’ non-turner.  

This sparked another cluster of wickets, with the sturdy Fryers finally being caught and bowled for a valiant 16 by a Hack at least 50 years his senior and Davis being bowled by Woolfries for a duck. Sturdy strode in to provide a sting in the tail and set a target that didn’t prove quite testing enough.

Hoddesdon innings

B. Andrews   c Woolfries b Maughan  18

C. Purves                          b Power        41

J. Curtis                            b Woolfries   81

C. Handy                          b Larkin        29

R. Walters c Woolfries   b Larkin          0

H. Spicer                          b Power          0

T. Fryers               c and b Gwynn       16

S.Davis                             b Woolfries     0

G.Duke        c Smyth      b Woolfries     6

A. Sturdy    not out                               28

extras                                                       6

Total       (all out)                         223

Fall of wickets:  1-61, 2-61, 108-3, 108-4, 5-113, 6-185, 7-185, 8-189, 9-223

Pells             5 -0-32-0

Maughan      5-0-29-1

Power          10-2-46-2

Larkin           4-0-50-2

Woolfries   9.2-1-30-3   

Gwynn          4-0-22-1

Buccaneers innings

K. Ross             not out   104

W.Okines           b Davis    0

S. Power            b Curtis  80

P. Larkin  lbw   b Curtis  14

R. Smyth            not out  14 

extras                                14

Total   (3 wkts)         226

Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-146, 3-166

Davis          8-0-44-1

Sturdy     10-0-52-0

Handy      10-1-45-0

Walters     3-0-34-0

Curtis     7.3-0-40-2

Buccaneers beat Reigate Pilgrims by 9 wickets 

The Buccaneers launched their season in style at Betchworth on Sunday thanks mainly to Adam Wyartt (4-33) and Simon Woolfries (4-38) who turned the game on its head as the grassy wet pitch dried in the sun and beeze after lunch. Having lost a valuable toss, Pilgrims had recovered impressively from losing their openers to demanding new ball bursts from Bob Palmer and Rob Rydon.

Mitchell (59) and Burnside (26) looked set to post a testing total but on 100-2 Burnside was discombobulated by Woolfries do-little armer to be dextrously caught by keeper Jim Harcourt. This breakthrough blew Pilgrims apart and they lost their last 8 wickets for 33 as Wyartt persuaded the middle order to poke early at balls suddenly sticking to the pitch and Woolfries cut off the tail with a clever mixture of deviation and straightness.

But with the pitch beginning to play tricks and boundaries hard to hit over a long, slow outfield 134 was a stiffer target than it looked.  However, the Buccaneers openers started brightly until The Very Reverend James Stringer paid a penance for a sinfully late night entertaining his Synod. Flashing at the lively Wise, the Archbishop was wickedly caught one-handed at slip by the diving Scotty Burgess.

The rest was plain-sailing though as Johnny ‘Boon-boy’ Steele (54 not out), fluent from the off,  made light of any gremlims left in the pitch in an increasingly authoritative match-winning stand of 114 with Kimbo Ross whose stylish unbeaten 67 showed why he’s far-famed as the Justin Langer of the Eastern Cape.  

 Ross, who had made 70 not out in both 2010’s victories at Betchworth and Charterhouse,  stroked the winning runs as the clock struck six to speed his side into the adjacent beer garden.   

Reigate Pilgrims innings

Burgess    c Harcourt  b Palmer 10

Baty                               b Rydon    7

Mitchell   c Stringer   b Wyartt   59

Burnside c Harcourt b Woolfries 26 

Saikia       c Rydon     b Wyartt     4

Peri           c Gwynn   b Wyartt     6

Bond         c Steele      b Wyartt    2

Wise         c Harcourt b Woolfries 12

Wood                           b Woolfries  0

Fairchild                     b Woolfries   1

Arnold                         not out          0

extras                                                9

Total                                           133    

Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-38, 3-100, 4-111, 5-111, 6- 118, 7- 123, 8-130, 9-132

                 0    m    r     w

Rydon         9  3   23   1

Palmer      11  1   35   1

Wyartt      11  2  33   4

Woolfries 8.1  0  38  4      

Buccaneers innings

Stringer  c Burgess  b Wise   5

Ross                          not out 67

Steele                       not out 54

extras                                      8

Total               (1 wkt)   134

Fall of wicket: 1-20

             o  m  r  w

Wise     7  1 21  1

Rob Rydon holding the Geoffrey Moore Trophy

Rob Rydon proudly holding the Geoffrey Moore Trophy he received from former England leg spinner Ian Salisbury (left) at the Buccaneers 81st Annual Dinner held at the East India Club on Thursday 10 February.

Ian Salisbury, the former England leg spinner and currently Surrey’s 2nd team coach, revealed that he had been ‘volunteered’ to replace his boss Chris Adams as guest speaker for the Buccaneers Annual Dinner at the East India Club last Thursday. Having presented the Geoffrey Moore Trophy to Rob Rydon for his outstanding contribution to the club in 2010, Ian recalled fondly how his boyhood hero, one I.T. Botham, took him under his wing against Pakistan at Lord’s in June 1992 during his debut as the first England leg spinner for 21 years.

“Having survived the previous evening with Beefy, Ian was rewarded when the Great All Rounder caught Javed Miandad at slip from a jaffa of a leg break that grazed the glove of Pakistan’s star batsman. Ian also told of how he made up for the unusual mishap of hitting his own wicket against Mustaq Ahmed in the 1st innings with a plucky knock as nightwatchman before being trapped lbw by match-winner Wasim Akram in the 2nd innings. After Pakistan had snatched a tense 2-wicket victory, Ian was deputed to drive the injured Botham down to Horsham and, as it happened, away from Test cricket for the last time.”

The Hurlingham scoreboard recording the club’s record stand of 300 between Jim Harcourt (left) and Mel Ragnauth in our famous 8 wicket victory in 2006.