Knockers Vs Alleyn CC

Win :: Played on Sunday 5th July 2015

Knockers
167-10

Alleyn CC
146-10

Match Report

Knockers venture into to unfamiliar territory for recent times with their fourth win in six fixtures. Alleyn CC proved to be great opposition and but for taken chances may well have won. Knockers may also have run away with it when standing at 90-2 off the first eleven overs. Snellers looked in fine form with the bat and Tom Cobb's measured half century set up a team victory with the ball in this thirty over match.

The scheduled 1pm start came and went as a very damp wicket promised little. Alleyn CC, visiting St Lawrence, contented themselves with a game of soft cricket, while we tried to look as uninterested as possible with only a round of Bucks Fizz registering on the enthusiasm scale. At 2pm things looked better but after winning the toss it looked a generous call for captain Freddie 'Sugar & Spice' Young to bat first. Were we being nice hosts? Paul Seldon walked out and immediately set the tone at around 10 an over, defying his recent injury and making a mockery of perceived conditions. LSA looked unhappy at the other end, with the ball either taking an age to reach bat or freakishly finding lift off a stodgy track. LSA was bowled and brooded over his averageas Ed Marsh survived two drops while forming two handy partnerships with Seldon, who was bowled and Cobb, who outlasted him. Marsh, imperious last week, was methodical this week and when he was caught at the third attempt, Knockers looked a very healthy 107-3.

Cobb brought up his half century, continuing some fine recent form and playing the conditions well until serving up a dolly to mid wicket. Christian Kutner had already gone and Guthrie Miller was soon caught off Twinn's bowling who then quickly took Rory Goodson after Harry Elliot was bowled at the other end. Scott Landers joined Freddie Young and and just avoided the hat-trick ball. Young tried one switch hit too many and Twinn bagged his fourth and then his five-fer, bowling Landers as their twelfth man who joined Knockers's ranks for the day, Rob Smith, was left stranded as Knockers finished on 167-10.

An extensive tea was enjoyed by all with dirt on the absent Stuart Seldon hard to come by, despite the spadework of his former pupils. Rory Goodson, bereft of his usual four-pint preparations, opened the bowling and the Alleyn CC openers attempted to match Knockers' early run rate. Harry Elliot put a stop to that with an initial maiden over and Goodson followed it up as Landers hoovered up a running catch at mid-off from the Alleyn left-hander, Dyson. Elliot then produced a gorgeous outswinger which Cobb smartly pouched behind the stumps. Elliot bowed out of his first spell with another maiden and Marsh took over, continuing the ungenerous bowling from that end. Goodson grafted on, his next three overs going for just seven runs and the pressure told as he exited with scalp of the dangerous opener, Sarson; Cobb following a looping miscued shot into his gloves.

Young was in the mood to dance and the captain desired three poles instead of his usual pastime of one. Several Knockers appealed for a slip catch, which the umpire dismissed as even he was probably aware that this last happened for the side sometime in the 1980's. He did however take note of Sugar's quiet LBW appeal and duly raised his finger. By now Wicks was well settled at the crease and was joined by the aggressive batting of Gray. Rob Smith risked social exclusion on the journey home as he tempted Wicks into a skied shot which Snellers swallowed with aplomb. Gray then helpfully set-up a run out but this brought together Alleyn's usual opening pair and he and Davis looked ready to eat into the remaining runs until Young combined with Cobb to see off Gray.

Kutner was then on for Young and sent down five balls to help the score along before producing a peach of a delivery that seamed sharply to remove the off stump and Davis. Marsh returned with a wicket maiden, but at 141 and three overs remaining, the target was in sight and a pumped up Twinn was up for the challenge. Knockers held firm with Kutner, rich, handsome and talented (I may have previously attributed this wicket elsewhere) bowled their eleventh man with a ball so mesmerising the author of this report temporarily lost his sight, ending a fine day's cricket from both teams and vindicating Young's decision at the toss.

MOTM: Tom Cobb - chief run getter & sterling work behind the stumps from the reborn Knocker.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Paul Seldon	bowled	0	0	44
Lynden Spencer-Allen	bowled	0	0	2
Ted Marsh	caught	0	0	27
Tom Cobb	caught	0	0	54
Christian Kutner	bowled	0	0	1
Guthrie Miller	caught	0	0	10
Harry Elliot	caught	0	0	0
Freddie Young	bowled	0	0	12
Rory Goodson	bowled	0	0	0
Scott Landers	bowled	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Rory Goodson	6.0	1	23	2
Harry Elliot	4.0	2	12	1
Ted Marsh	6.0	1	11	1
Freddie Young	6.0	1	27	2
Christian Kutner	3.0	0	21	2
To be Replaced	4.0	0	40	1