Knockers Vs Tunbridge Wells

Losing Draw :: Played on Sunday 25th June 2017

Tunbridge Wells
228-5

Knockers
191-8

Match Report

A satisfying game saw Knockers draw against Tunbridge Wells on the Neville. Ollie Marsh carried our main threat with the ball, bagging three wickets and a fine partnership between Alex Pusinelli and Guthrie Miller, who both posted half-centuries, clawed us to within range but a win would have been flattering with both teams fielding ten men.

Knockers took to the field first after Captain Marsh had negotiated a timed game. The plan to keep things tight from the first six overs was carried out as Ollie and then Seb Horner asked plenty of questions with Marsh getting the waiting Wells batsmen to sit a little straighter with a fourth-ball wicket. Ollie had to leave the field of play to tape up a boot that was falling apart and to a certain extent our plans to contain them went with it. Sayem Ahmad stepped in while Ollie did some repair work and when he returned to the pitch he took a superb forward diving catch at mid-on off Sayem's bowling. 49-2 off eleven and things looked pretty rosy.

H. Green then came to the crease and began as if the very idea of playing himself in was offensive. He gave chances but his bludgeoning swagger complemented Wells Skipper Ethren's steady innings and an 87 run partnership formed in twelve overs. Marsh did for their captain who nicked onto his stumps and rapidly split the stumps again. Perhaps we could get back in this? Alas N. Sale, a Wells first teamer walked out and hit a breezy, chanceless 44 as he and Green brought the 200 up before retiring. Green himself wasn't to miss a chance of a well earned ton before retiring leaving a moment to celebrate as Neil Dave took his first wicket for Knockers to end Wells' innngs on 228-5 from 35.

Tea was well made and enjoyed as the chance to get batting on Kent's out ground was savoured. Richard Calver and Sayem Ahmad opened on a gorgeous track and the pair set things up nicely, negotiating the first first eight overs without too much trouble before Sayem was caught. Lando looked set before finding a chap in the covers only too willing to play catching practice which brought debutant Alex Pusinelli to the crease. He quickly set about restoring order spraying the attack to all corners. John Mitchell got bowled getting a tad excited about his new-found abilities following a tidy late cut four.

Guthrie Miller entered the fray and together with Alex took the fight to Wells. At one point the pair hit seven fours from eight deliveries as Knockers run-rate tripled to make a seemingly distant win a possibility. When Alex fell to a fine over the shoulder running catch to Green at point, we had enough batting to support Millers' unforgiving treatment of the bowling. And then we didn't. Seb Horner was bowled second ball around his legs. Ollie Marsh was taken by Ethren as the ball came down with snow on it and then JT attempting to keep the run-rate somewhere near plausible, found himself already halfway down the track on his way back to the pavilion as a simple return did for him. Last pair, Neil and Guthrie got it down to 38 from the last over but it wasn't forthcoming despite an early wide. Both sides enjoyed a laugh on pitch and we were invited to try and set the fixture up for next summer.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Richard Calver	caught	4	0	22
Sayem Ahmad	caught	1	0	8
Scott Landers	caught	0	0	2
Alex Pusinelli	caught	12	0	61
John Mitchell	bowled	1	0	4
Guthrie Miller	not out	11	0	67
Seb Horner	bowled	0	0	0
Ollie Marsh	caught	0	0	1
James Thompson	run out	0	0	0
Neil Dave	not out	0	0	2

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Ollie Marsh	9.0	0	45	3
Seb Horner	8.0	0	39	0
Sayem Ahmad	6.0	0	41	1
Guthrie Miller	6.0	0	52	0
Neil Dave	4.0	0	21	1
James Thompson	2.0	0	20	0