BG Faders CC 124-5 (R. Gregory 30 not out, T. Coates 2-10) beat the Buccaneers 123-9 (F. Barras 36 not out, C. Lindop 2-19).

The opening fixture of the 2024 season saw the BG Faders take on the Buccaneers on a beautiful spring evening at Bilton Grange. As the opening pair of Buccaneers came to the crease, they truly lived up to the name with a swashbuckling unbeaten 25 from F. Barras and an assured unbeaten 26 from debutant C. Lindop. At 63-0 from 8 overs things were looking good for the Buccaneers, but the Faders kept cool heads and started to make inroads through the middle order with wickets from H. Smith and two in two balls from T. Coates. A valiant 22 from G. Jones and the return of F. Barras smartly pushed the Buccaneers score up to a challenging but chaseable 124 to win.

The Faders commenced the chase with some steady run scoring from openers S. Chessel and C. Latham under a barrage of excellent seam bowling from K. Russouw and C. Lindop. The score started to tick along nicely when R. Gregory and D. Murari came to the crease and handsomely despatched to all areas of the ground before D. Murari was excellently stumped by S. Gedye and R. Gregory retired on and unbeaten 30. Alas the damage was already done, and the Faders middle order of J. Steele, M. Metson, A Chatterton and the latest of late cuts from T. Coates knocked off the remaining runs as the light faded.

Many thanks to all who took part and hope to see you next week for BG Faders CC vs DUFS on Tuesday 7th May at 6pm.