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