Saturday 02 July 2011

Match Report

Buccaneers hold on for draw against the HAC

The Buccaneers' annual fixture against the HAC produced a battling draw. Skipper Simon Cleobury won the toss and choice to field, figuring that chasing would give the best chance of a victory on a good pitch. The Bucs nearly got off to the perfect start but the skipper, this time with the keeping gloves on, spilled the chance off Nick Price's first ball. DJ Chak opened from the other end and immediately found large amounts of in-swing. Once he had the swing under control he struck twice in an over to remove an opener with an excellent inswinger and the dangerous looking number 3, with one that induced a leading edge that was excellently taken by Ben Williams in the gully. The HAC then took command, taking advantage of a flat pitch and short legside boundaries. Their score rattled on to a hundred and the Bucs were staring down the barrel. The combination of Nick Mumby and Brett Emblin did finally break the partnership, with Emblin removing their quick scoring number 4. Mumby then removed the other opener. However, with such an easy scoring pitch runs continued to flow. There were wickets for Matt Wilson and a useful spell from James Forage. The HAC finally declared on 224.

The visitors' innings did not start well with skipper Cleobury bowled by a ball that nipped back a long way off the pitch. Freddie Scadgell and Williams did well against some excellent HAC bowling, until Scadgell fell to the other opener. James Down weathered the testing bowling for a while but he also fell to a top delivery. Our celebrity Jonnie Irwin did not find it much easier and was back in the hutch not long after. Meanwhile at the other end Williams was playing some excellent strokes and still just about keeping the Bucs in the hunt. Together with Matt Wilson they moved the score on nicely for a while. However, some accurate spin bowling from both ends undid Williams who fell just short of his half century. There followed a good cameo from James Forage and some continued good batting from Wilson, but they both eventually fell. DK Chak and Nick Mumby were both undone by the excellent spinners, leaving Brett Emblin and Nick Price to survive the last few overs, which they duly did, ensuring the draw.

Thank you to the HAC for the game and to our umpire Jonathan Manners.

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