After weeks of baking weather, the Buccs arrived at a cloudy but warm Lindfield with the wicket looking more like Chennai than West Sussex. Skipper James Stringer was disappointed to lose the toss but then immediately pleased to have been asked to bat. Leading a team made up almost entirely of professionals or those who ‘support’ them, Kim Ross (accountant) and Buccaneer debutant James Smith (management consultant) opened up in a pleasing fashion, surviving only a single scare (Smith dropped at second slip off the brisk Pedley) to pass 50. They looked in little danger until Smith inexplicably lofted a drive to be caught by O’Brien for 51. Fellow debutant Soumak Bose joined Ross, but their stand was in its infancy when Ross was bowled by Britton for 21. Disappointingly, Alexander Rydon was barely settling in when a calling mix up, mixed with a suicidal run, cut down the flower of Buccaneers’ youth for 3. Soumak, after hitting several lusty blows, was next out for 15. Ollie Metcalfe and James Stringer came together and Stringer was easing in, when for the first time in his career, he was out trod on wicket while leg glancing for 6. Northern grit was needed to shore up the defences and the pride of Yorkshire (Metcalfe Major and Minor) mixed fraternal telepathy (to run some very sharp singles) with some rasping drives. Will was out for 18. With the three B’s – Brandes, Bjorn and Bryant chipping in to support Ollie (45), the Buccs finished at 201 all out off 39.1 overs.
After a typically generous tea, the Buccs took the field, confident that five an over would be a testing challenge for the young Lindfield side. Rydon conceding only 18 from his 7.2 overs and Will Metcalfe (2-45) administered the tourniquet, as the talented Lawrence, with support from Sage and Clark, struggled to get the new ball away. With good support in the field from a predominantly mobile fielding side, Buccs continued to refuse to give much away. Debutant Bjorn (who could surely have represented Sweden (Ed)?), bowled his first spell for the club with a tidy (but unlucky) return of 1 for 27. His figures weren’t helped by a disappointing drop from the skipper, but the miss didn’t cost the side too much as rubber-limbed Will Metcalfe clung on shortly afterwards to dismiss Lawrence for 35. ‘Rhino’ Brandes continued with the pressure bowling, giving little away, to finished with figures of 2 for 40. He was joined by his spin twin John Bryant, who quickly snaffled two wickets with one that genuinely turned and the other which allowed the skipper to redeem himself by clinging on to one. Meanwhile, Lindfield had decided that now was the time that they had to try and get the total and despite a required rate of 10, their Manhattan was beginning to resemble Midtown. Rydon Dad and lad responded, after a number of dry runs, combining to effect a sharp run out of Amerio. Buccs nerves were still gangling when Rydon and Smith were invited to snuff out the Lindfield rearguard. Smith, who hadn’t bowled for seven years, proved to have ice in his veins. Rydon began where he left off and ended the game with a swoop, pick up, swivel and shy at the stumps which left Booth several yards short. Buccaneers won by 21 runs and it was great to have some talented new players representing the club as well as strong showings from the 50 and overs.
Innings of Buccaneers
K Ross st Jake Brookes b Joshua Britton 21
J Smith ct Matt O’Brien b Sean Sage 51
S Bose st Jake Brookes b Joshua Britton 15
A Rydon run out 3
O Metcalfe bowled Daniel Booth 45
J Stringer* hit wicket b Daniel Booth 6
R Rydon bowled Daniel Booth 6
W Metcalfe bowled Daniel Booth 18
S Brandes bowled Daniel Booth 2
F Bjorn ct Geoffrey Lawrence b Scott Pedley 4
J Bryant not out 0
Byes (1), Leg Byes (14), Wides (11), No Balls (4)
Extras 30
Total 201 all out
Overs 39.1
Bowling
Scott Pedley 8-1-35-1
Luke Amerio 4-0-30-0
Joshua Britton 8-0-41-2
Sean Sage 7-2-20-1
Alex Clark 2-0-5-0
Daniel Booth 7.1-1-30-5
Kieran Cummins 2-0-14-0
Josh O’Brien 1-0-11-0
Innings of Lindfield
Geoffrey Lawrence ct W Metcalfe b F Bjorn 35
Sean Sage lbw b O Metcalfe 2
Alex Clark bowled W Metcalfe 5
Jake Brookes+ bowled S Brandes 22
Josh O’Brien bowled J Bryant 22
Kieran Cummins bowled S Brandes 7
Joshua Britton ct J Stringer b J Bryant 24
Scott Pedley run out (J Bryant)22
Matt O’Brien* not out 18
Luke Amerio run out (R Rydon) 2
Daniel Booth run out (R Rydon) 1
Byes (2), Leg Byes (2), Wides (15), No Balls (1)
Extras 20
Total 180 all out
Overs 38.2
R Rydon 7.2-2-18-0
W Metcalfe 8-2-45-2
F Bjorn 8-1-27-1
S Brandes 8-1-40-2
J Bryant 4-0-25-2
S Bose 1- 0-10-0
J Smith 2-0-11-0