Knockers Vs Bidborough

Win :: Played on Sunday 22nd May 2016

Knockers
239-6

Bidborough
137-10

Match Report

A win to start Knockers' summer off in some style. Debutant Ed Springett opened and made an unbeaten 95 and formed one half of a key 174 run partnership with Lynden Spencer-Allen who made 92 himself. Gerald McBrearty hit the stumps twice in one over only for the bails to remain in place while Ollie Marsh, James Masters and Tom Bailey took three wickets apiece.

A youthful Bidborough, who had graciously loaned us three players, won the toss and put us in. The track seamed and offered a fair bit of lift despite the damp conditions. Knockers skipper Guy Howe, who was sporting underwear with a print of Margaret Thatcher on the rear - ironically an area where mining has been actively encouraged, went out with Springett and looked steady until a looping top edge was safely held by his opposite number. The first our three junior loanees, Oliver Marshall, hit a fine cover drive but then got on one early and was caught comfortably at mid-off.

The Springett/Spencer-Allen show then got started. They came together in the fifth over at 19-2 and twenty-one overs later had put Knockers in a commanding position. Both were on for their centuries, Spencer-Allen raced away, hitting a glorious drive to the pavilion for his fifty after a few heckles about some runs off the edge. Springett was maturity itself, playing the conditions and working the field with ones and twos and picking off the bad ball. The partnership survived a drinks break and a heavy shower that brought the covers on and reduced the overs to 35.

Spencer-Allen was eventually caught as his boundary laden innings came to an end. Springett then started opening up, at one point hitting two successive sixes, one of which came to rest in the adjacent bowls pavilion leaving a window in need of replacement. Our second loanee, Ponsford, looked to be settling but fell to a catch off some tempting bowling. Bailey hit a boundary off his first ball and then got castled at the other end with Marsh going the same way the very next ball. Paul Seldon then saw out the the final few overs with Knockers finishing on 239.

Marsh was licking his lips at the seaming track and was soon into his stride with the ball with a wicket-maiden in his first over as his pace unsettled the Bidborough batsmen. He jagged the ball from middle to the top of the off stump for his first wicket, bowled a second maiden and in his fourth over struck middle stump. Our final loanee, Masters, opened at the other end and also took wicket in his first over as Marshall held on at mid-on.

Ponsford replaced Marsh and Guy 'ball of the century(tm)' Howe brought himself on for Masters. The former kept up the trick of taking a wicket first over bowling the BCC skipper around his legs. Guido's magic had obviously been used up in the bedroom the night before as he had trouble reproducing his usual trickery with the ball. Tom 'charming man' Bailey took over and Springett joined him at the other end. Bailey again took a wicket in his first over as Marsh slow dived to hold on at mid wicket. Springett was unfortunate not to get greater reward for his bowling as the ball eluded the edge on many occasions. Bailey however certainly had a charm over the ball and took two in one over, both bowled and one of those around the legs.

McBrearty came on as Marsh returned, bowling spin at the other end. To hit the stumps and not dislodge the bails can be considered unlucky but to do it twice in one over might be considered rather tragic and yet Gerald managed the rare feat twice in six balls. Marsh got the first stumping of his career, courtesy of LSA with his Marigolds, as Barlow, the proud recipient of previously mentioned good fortune finally ran out of luck in charging down the pitch. Masters wrapped things up as Springett snaffled a straightforward chance to end the match.

An enjoyable day, aided much by the high standard of Bidborough's juniors, both loaned and in opposition. On to Sissinghurst men.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Ed Springett	not out	0	0	95
Guy Howe	caught	0	0	3
Ollie Marshall	caught	0	0	5
Lynden Spencer-Allen	caught	0	0	92
Toby Ponsford	caught	0	0	2
Tom Bailey	bowled	0	0	6
Ollie Marsh	bowled	0	0	0
Paul Seldon	not out	0	0	6
Scott Landers	dnb	0	0	0
Gerald McBrearty	dnb	0	0	0
James Masters	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Ollie Marsh	7.0	2	33	3
James Masters	6.3	1	21	3
Toby Ponsford	5.0	0	26	1
Guy Howe	2.0	0	12	0
Ed Springett	3.0	0	17	0
Tom Bailey	4.0	0	15	3
Gerald McBrearty	2.0	0	12	0

 

Match Photos