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