Knockers Vs Eridge

Tie :: Played on Sunday 16th August 2015

Eridge
156-3

Knockers
156-6

Match Report

Helmetgate. We could focus on how the strongest Knockers batting line-up we've had for a good while didn't quite chase down 157 runs but instead we shall look at how five penalty runs took away the chance of victory on a rainy afternoon. Harry Elliot was on top form with the ball and James Mitchell fell just shy of a 50 in this 30 over match.

Put into field in the rain by Eridge, Captain Tom Cobb turned to Harry Elliot and Christian Kutner as his openers. Harry was "annoyingly accurate" according to their opener with his six overs going for a measly seven runs. It was during his penultimate over that the ball was tipped onto glovesman Stuart Seldon's grounded lid by the man himself. "Five runs for the helmet" came the cry from the umpire which we felt was a little harsh on the Knockers favourite but the runs did come into play by the end. Christian Kutner helped Harry turn the screw early on. Elliot's first three overs took in two maidens and first blood as he bowled their opener, Pooley. Christian struck in his second over, bowling Knott. Both had removed the middle stump and by first change, Eridge had barely registered on the board.

Daryn Kutner had by now introduced us to his missile arm from fine leg. Rumours began circulating of his playing for Sommerset and by the time they'd worked their way around the field I think he was once in the World Eleven during the Packer years. Still, it was hard to tell if Stu was more worried about his pacy returns than the batsmen. Seb Horner and Daryn were now on and the run rate was creeping at three an over. Both men had chances dropped but wet conditions did little to help the fielders except in chasing down shots that would easily been a boundary on a dry day. Horner bowled the remaining opener, Ellis for 37 and things looked pretty rosy.

This did bring their main man to the crease, captain Luke Forbes. As the rain subsided, he set about upping the run rate with his partner, Knott who seemed to lead a charmed life, surviving two drops and escaping numerous run outs. Kutner's strong shoulder was in evidence with his bowling while Seb played with a teasing length. Richard Calver and Cobb bowled the remaining overs. Forbes took to Calver while he troubled Knott and Cobb kept it fairly tidy against two men well in. The innings finished on 156 and having two Seldons with over 10,000 Knockers runs between them to come among several that could wield a bat it felt pretty good.

Tea was great. A find spread of home made cakes and sandwiches were demolished by all. Stu opened with James Mitchell. The former pulled the first ball for four and drove the second straight into cover's hands. Paul Seldon took his place and he and Mitchell put on 50 for the second wicket as Eridge kept the bowling slow on stodgy track. The pair's mixture of fine drives and cut shots brought up 75 from 14 overs when Paul was caught. Enter Cobb. He and Mitchell brought up 100 four overs later before James was caught by a fine diving catch at mid-wicket.
Calver top edged back to Ellis for his third wicket bringing in Horner who could have been out all four balls that he faced. The first nutmegged the keeper, the next two were dropped by Ellis off his own bowling and the forth should have been a smart single but a mix up saw Seb sensibly give up his wicket instead of having the in form Cobb run out.

Daryn came out and immediately looked like he'd help Cobb bring us over the line. We needed 40 off the last nine overs but Eridge came back with two consecutive maidens followed by just three runs off the next. Tight bowling saw the Knockers pair run hard until ten came off the 27th over leaving us needing 11 off the last three. Eridge came back again with just a single off the 28th and then Cobb holed out. Dan Mannion, a man who admitted that the only cricket he'd played was in his back garden went out to try to win the match, his sprinter's stance showing Daryn that he was ready for a quick single. They ran for four off the penultimate over.

Six needed from six. First ball: a drive past mid on, two runs from Daryn. Second ball: drive straight to mid on, no run. Third ball, same shot, cheeky single. Advice to to Mannion to hit and run. Forth ball, Dan hits and runs, two from two needed. Fifth ball: dot. Last ball: another quick single off a misfield and the game is tied. A shame not to win but it was a good day despite the gloomy conditions with Christian requesting that all future fixtures be at clubs that have a bar. No need to drown our sorrows here, on to Penshurst men.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Stuart Seldon	caught	1	0	4
James Mitchell	caught	6	2	49
Paul Seldon	caught	5	0	26
Tom Cobb	caught	3	0	35
Richard Calver	caught	0	0	2
Seb Horner	run out	0	0	1
Daryn Kutner	not out	2	0	24
Dan Mannion	not out	0	0	1
Scott Landers	dnb	0	0	0
Christian Kutner	dnb	0	0	0
Harry Elliot	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Harry Elliot	6.0	2	7	1
Christian Kutner	6.0	1	26	1
Seb Horner	6.0	0	34	1
Daryn Kutner	5.0	0	27	0
Richard Calver	4.0	0	36	0
Tom Cobb	3.0	0	15	0

 

Match Photos