Run Bonanza v Buccaneers

First Brook Sunday Century of Season

With a cloudless sky and parched outfield the Brook team were verbally generous in their opinions when discovering they were about to take the field at 1.30pm
The Buccaneers' opening partnership of Milne and Robertson looked comfortable until total confusion reigned and Milne was run out by an Adnan throw from the boundary.
Robertson who, by general consensus, was the guilty party was filled with remorse and soon tried to drive Oliver Cronk back over the hill into Milford..... but missed the ball! 37-2.
Captain Angus Berry was then joined by Martin and things looked less rosy for Brook as both batsmen played with flair and aggression until Adnan got one to pass Martin's bat onto the pads.
At this point captain Tom Williams brought his off breaks on and after some cheap overs got a "brave" lbw decision against Fletcher from the Buccaneers' umpire. Martin was soon followed back to the pavilion by No. 6 Robertson who drove Tom straight to mid on Cronk and, soon after, C. Leefe offered a sharp chance to keeper Serrano off Tom.
At the other end Angus Berry was showing all how it should be done, happily coming far down the wicket and dispatching the ball to all parts.So it was a little surprising when he skied a chance to Rhodri on the boundary for an entertaining 75. Tom finished with 4-54, An interesting fact from the game was Rhodri's taking of three fine catches with only one counting; two were off no balls.
Any hopes that Brook had broken the back of the Buccaneers' batting were quickly dispelled with Leefe Snr. and Rydon A. putting on an unbroken stand of 86 for the eighth wicket. Their partnership was only stopped by a declaration which gave both sides 38 overs. I suspect all present felt 249 was a safe score to end the innings on.
A fine tea followed, prepared and served by the Captain's mother, Godmother and close family friend. Thank you ladies.
With a recent repeat of his rib injury Rhodri cannot bowl so his brother gave him two opportunities over the weekend to bat as an opener. Whilst there were concerns of nose bleeds at such a height he did not let his teams down. Opening with John Hamilton a quick 26 runs were soon put on the board, (mainly from John's crashing cuts), when John was surprised to be dismissed LBW off the bowling of Berry. Sean Brierley continued where he left off last week, playing with confidence and some style before being spectacularly caught and bowled by Leefe Snr for 12. Whilst feeling a tad unlucky to be so well caught later events in the game proved how desperately unlucky he was to be out caught!! Nick Owen, who came to the wicket next, is a committed lefthander with a well defined scoring arc! But if the bowler is foolish enough to put the ball in that area he will punish it and so he did in this game. Whilst only scoring 20 he hit a couple of balls towards the Dog which required a search party to retrieve. Adnan followed and was dismissed in the same way as last week. The ball was met by the middle of the bat and was going straight to the boundary except for the presence of a fielder who saved himself serious injury by catching it.
At 127-4 with only fifteen overs remaining a positive result for Brook looked unlikely but Qadir was now marching to the wicket. Most of us know Qadir never "dies wondering" and today was his day. With the generosity of the Buccaneers' fielders he sent most shots into the air but at pace.
Whilst all this was going on Rhodri was at the other end mixing extravagant shots with judicious defence, although a number of balls did pass the bat. A few shots will be remembered; the smooth pick up into the tennis court, perhaps. being the best. With Qadir (59no) he put on an undefeated 125 for the fifth wicket to take Brook to victory with one over remaining and, at the same time, scoring his first century for Brook (129no)
It should be noted that Angus Berry kept Brook interested by giving lengthy spells to the Leefe spinners but equally Brook kept the Buccaneers potentially in the game by using the aerial route a lot!!
A fine game which will be remembered for the stifling heat, the captains getting every player "into the game", three special innings and a hugely convivial hour and half talking and drinking together in the Dog and Pheasant garden afterwards