With the Buccaneers looking to avenge the 2013 defeat, we had 10 players available on a glorious Kentish summer’s day.
The Knockers’ contingent of five from Tonbridge School needing to be away by 7 pm, so the 40 over format was scrapped in favour of a declaration game with 20 overs from 5pm. The Buccs won the toss and batted on a very slow wicket. However, the Buccs’ strong top order line up of Ollie Metcalfe, Vic Kandampully, Simon Leefe and Sujay Chakravarti struggled to get to grips with the lack of pace. Metcalfe fell to an impossible catch at slip and Kandampully was deceived by the slow wicket, before Leefe and Chakravarti steadied the ship: Chakravarti’s power and aggression to Leefe’s touch and style putting on 45 for the third wicket. The ‘2 H’s’, Hobson and Henderson, and newcomer Gordon fell in quick succession, before Palmer and Leefe added 50 odd for the seventh wicket. When Bryant and Gwynn were removed by a bowler whose action was worthy of an ICC review, enter Georgie Leefe, 13 year old daughter of Simon (and of more, see later). No quarter being given by the bowling side, she was rock-solid while another 15 runs took the Buccs’ total to 157 – in truth probably 20 shy of a competitive total.
Hobson led the Buccs’ attack, bowling tidily, with movement but unluckily and so without success. Meanwhile Henderson bowled with good pace from the other end and chipped in with two early wickets. The Knockers’ third wicket partnership unfortunately did the damage: they batted well, mixing clever placement with hard hitting and they paced the knock cleverly. Change bowlers Palmer, Leefe Snr and Bryant were unable to make inroads and the game looked to be drifting away from the Buccs before Hack (four wickets) and the 13 year old G Leefe (one wicket) were brought on and between them bowled 10 overs, taking 5 for 33. Their excellent bowling took the game to the last ball of the 20 overs, when The Knockers scraping home with three wickets to spare. A loss, but another very enjoyable day’s cricket against the convivial Knockers.
(Wo)man of the Match Award: Special mention for Georgie Leefe. She turned up expecting to watch and luckily volunteered to play. She had to play in borrowed, over-sized kit and without boots, batting and bowling in her own light blue espadrilles. Let not appearances deceive: she is a good player and already represents Sussex at age group level. She batted skilfully and bravely and bowled a good line and length, moving the ball in the air. ‘Giving her a go’ became keeping her on to keep us in the game and with Hack at the other end it was good bowling to watch and field to. Remember the name: we’ll be hearing more about Miss Leefe’s cricket in the future.
Innings of Buccaneers
V Kandampully b Calver 12
O Metcalfe c Darry b He 0
S Leefe b Ahmed 34
S Chakravarti b Rawson 34
P Hobson c P Seldon b Rawson 3
R Henderson run out 1
G Gordon b Rawson 6
B Palmer ct and b Ahmed 59
R Gwynn b Ahmed 2
J Bryant b Ahmed 1
G Leefe not out 0
Extras 5
Total 157 all out
Fow 1-2(1), 2-13(2), 3-58(4), 4-62(5), 5-64(6), 6-77(7), 7-134(3), 8-135(9), 9-142(10), 10-157(8)
Bowling
He 6-0-22-1
Calver 5-0-28-1
Young 10-3-20-0
Rawson 8-0-36-3
Ahmed 5.3-1-31-4
Darry 4-0-17-0
Innings of Knockers
S Seldon b Henderson 2
P Cook c S Leefe b Henderson 23
E Darry b Gwynn 65
R Calver b Gwynn 49
S Rawson lbw Gwynn 0
T Elliott b Gwynn 0
F Young b Gwynn 0
P Seldon not out 4
S Ahmed not out 1
Extras 16
Total 160 for 7
Bowling
P Hobson 9-4-12-0
R Henderson 6-0-26-0
B Palmer 4-0-20-0
S Leefe 6-0-32-0
J Bryant 4-0-19-0
R Gwynn 6-0-26-4
G Leefe 4-0-7-1