(Editors note: this report dates from 17 June, hence reference to rain!)
The overnight rain neither dampened our spirits nor the famously rapid croquet lawn outfield at the prestigious Hurlingham Club. Miraculously the Buccaneers arrived on time with 10 healthy players; the unhealthy one was late due to a family emergency. With our opening batsman delayed, the Bucc’s won the toss and elected to field. This also meant that we couldn’t be skittled before lunch like last year…
Metcalfe (1-53 from 12 overs) and P. Hobson (0-42 from 9 overs) were the two lucky opening bowlers to be thrown the swinging Duke’s ball. Will and Paul both had some early deliveries swinging and using length well to stifle the batsmen with their very very medium paced technique. Upon tiring of the ball whistling past the outside edge, the captain decided to call on the first change attack made up of S. Moules and for a gruelling two over spell, S. Leefe. Moules, despite claiming injury from a previous match, bowled with genuine zip and saw some lovely bounce around the lugholes of the aristocratic batsmen.
We retired for lunch with Hurlingham 150 odd for 2. As we all settled down for a mixed bag of lunches; from beef curry to roast gammon or even an enviable ploughman’s, we quickly noticed that it was only the Buccaneers’ table that was littered with beer bottles. The oppo appeared to be taking on isotonic fluids of the non-alcoholic variety. Perhaps this was a sign of what was to follow.
However, when the bowling attack opened up after lunch with young Charlie Leefe (3-56 from 8 overs) from the Croquet End and Richard Hobbs (3-38 from 7 overs) from the Exhibition Court End, there was great success. Hobbs struck the two batsmen into the 50s (runs not age) whilst Charlie cleaned up the middle order and before you knew it Hurlingham were 8 down. Thanks to a dour interjection from Ollie Metcalfe we had to bare witness to a huge 9th wicket stand of over 120 runs leaving Hurlingham declaring on 294-8 after 51 overs.
Hurlingam opened up the batting with Jeremy Milne and Chris Leech, who put on an admirable opening stand of 55 runs after Leechy was bowled by the Burly Hurly captain Ben Thompson (5-49)m and Jezza fell moments later to the same fate. A few lusty blows from Stephen Moules (31) and debutant Ryan Martin (20) spelled the end of the top order batting. The all too familiar Buccaneers collapse started from there; going from 105-3 to 140 all out. Hurlingham used four bowlers, but only needed two in the end with Thompson and Robins both claiming five wicket hauls.
Jugs were taken in the clubhouse and then both teams retired for an early-ish night given this year the fixture was on a Sunday, so alas no partying up the Kings Road this year.
Innings of Hurlingham
F Eltingham ct J Milne b R Hobbs 74
J Kennedy ct and b W Metcalfe 5
S Rhys ct T Fletcher b S Moules 34
A Andiel ct O Metcalfe b R Hobbs 60
J White ct C Leefe b R Hobbs 3
R Hall ct T Fletcher b C Leefe 0
S Kennedy b C Leefe 12
J Dickins b C Leefe 9
B Thompson not out 50
H Robins not out 25
Extras 22
Total 294-8 dec
Bowling
W Metcalfe 12-3-53-1
P Hobson 9-0-42-0
S Leefe 6-0-37-0
S Moules 10-2-52-1
C Leefe 8-0-56-3
R Hobbs 7-1-38-3
Innings of Buccaneers
J Milne b B Thompson 25
C Leech b B Thompson 34
R Martin b B Thompson 20
S Moules ct A Andiel b H Robins 31
O Metcalfe lbw H Robins 1
S Leefe b H Robins 1
T Fletcher ct J Dickins b B Thompson 12
P Hobson ct B Thompson b H Robins 1
C Leefe b H Robins 0
W Metcalfe not out 10
R Hobbs lbw B Thompson 0
Extras 12
Total 135 all out
Bowling
H Robins 16-5-65-5
B Thompson 13.3-3-49-5
J Kennedy 3-0-11-0
S Kennedy 4-0-15-0