Knockers Vs Shoreham

Win :: Played on Sunday 12th July 2015

Knockers
218-3

Shoreham
210-6

Match Report

Lynden Spencer-Allen carried his bat along with the weight of being Knockers' only recognised batsman in this nine-man win. Nick Stewart and David Landers had an all-round influence in the result and Matt Watts removed their own centurion just as Shoreham looked set to win this 30-over match. A rare pair of century partnerships is worthy of note.

With barely enough Knockers present for a dinner party at the start of play, Shoreham graciously allowed us to bat. Nick Stewart expected to be slotted in around number six having replied "not bad" to questions about his batting prowess; five minutes later he was opening with LSA and the pair put on 100 for the first wicket. Lynden was dominant and they had to build the partnership with Shoreham determined to not bowl for the short boundary on a true wicket.

LSA barely acknowledged his fifty so determined was he to get on. Stewart hit one boundary in his 19 and ran hard in excellent support. After Nick was caught, Matt Watts was bowled first ball by Shoreham's skipper by a ball that moved sharply in from well outside off stump. Lando was padded up ready as umpire and for the second week avoided being part of a hattrick. For the second week he also got a duck which brought yet another relative that is better than him at cricket to the crease.

David Landers began a fine day's effort in a fourth wicket partnership of 102. His 35 not-out was as calm as it came with one six chucked in for good measure. LSA got two maximums himself with one straight effort that threatened to curtail a golfer's afternoon on the surrounding Darenth Valley course. With 218 on the board at tea it looked healthy but with more members of Scott's family present than Knockers it was hardly the picture of wellbeing.

Having flown in from Malta in time for tea, Guido regaled us with tales of his nose for fine wine and a number passed via a waiter from an eager "Olga". Language is no barrier when it comes to love and various exchanges over text between the two managed to iron out the finer points of Guy's intentions for the young lady, who had been happy to pose for a photo for him to remember her by.

Rory Goodson was again disappointed to have to open without his usual four-pint preparations as he and Watts shared the first eight overs between them. The pair gave little away despite the evergreen Ray Trick's wily opening batting for the home team. Goodson bowed out of his first spell with Shoreham's skipper finding David, who held on smartly at mid-off.

Stewart stepped in and bowled through. His caught and bowled of Trick on 35 was straight out of the top drawer as the ball hurtled back into his safe hands. Just before drinks he claimed another with Guido's forward dive at gully as sweet a catch as we are likely to see this summer. Paul Taylor, one of two debutants along with David Landers, sent down two overs at the other end that tested both batsmen and Lynden, who kept wicket. David took over, bagged a wicket via Watt's hands and generally took one game to get about five season's worth of contribution from his cousin. And he can sing and play various musical instruments, yadda, yadda, yadda. I have got a Blue Peter Badge you know, people.

Guido picked up a Shoreham wicket as Nick calmly caught at deep midwicket but the run rate was by now heavily influenced by Cammish who, after a tentative start, was making full use of the short boundary with four sixes in a powerful century. Stewart gave way to Watts and Guido to Goodson as nervous Knockers eyes strayed to the scoreboard. Essentially, had Cammish remained the game was lost. It was Watts' testing, skiddy line that turned the outcome in our favour bowling Shoreham's main man then immediately bowling another.

Knockers now had a chance and sharp work on the boundary, led by Gerald McBrearty, backed up a tight penultimate over from Guido and then Rory held his nerve to send down a final six that took Shoreham's target away from them.

MOTM: LSA, a total nine men could defend came mainly off his bat plus a lot of glovework.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Lynden Spencer-Allen	not out	13	2	119
Nick Stewart	caught	1	0	19
Matt Watts	bowled	0	0	0
Scott Landers	bowled	0	0	0
David Landers	not out	3	1	35
Rory Goodson	dnb	0	0	0
Paul Taylor	dnb	0	0	0
Gerald McBrearty	dnb	0	0	0
Guy Howe	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Rory Goodson	7.0	0	34	1
Matt Watts	7.0	0	28	2
Nick Stewart	7.0	0	54	1
Paul Taylor	2.0	0	25	0
David Landers	2.0	0	27	1
Guy Howe	5.0	0	24	1