Knockers Vs Bexley Park

Win :: Played on Sunday 20th June 2021

Knockers
148-6

Bexley Park
147-6

Match Report

Knockers first visit to Bexley Park was set under a bruised sky with a raised square for a stage. A fine performance by Ted Marsh was central to this twisting plot that ended with a final ball triumph.

A green and damp pitch, long boundaries and a wet, long-grassed outfield would have led lesser mortals choose to bowl first. But conscience doesn’t make a coward of our captain as Ollie stuck us in.

Ted and Scriv opened and the good friends soon learned to scramble for ones where you might otherwise expect to punch gloves following a boundary. James was bowled with Knockers creeping along at one an over. Bleasey entered.

Ted’s seventy runs crystallised words from past run masters who shunned breezy centuries and picked out dogged double digits as their greatest days. Will was a perfect foil as the pair put on 99 for the second wicket with the boundary seemingly out of reach. So relaxed became their teammates at this display of determination and skill that we talked through the lives and loves of our new faces. Howard’s thespian career inspiring some ham-fisted cultural references here.

Ted was finally undone by the deck, Snellers too after some glorious drives and Scott came and missed in between good running. Howard, perhaps too keen to play the part of dashing batsman called one quick single too many as Will’s brilliant condition play ended in a run out. Seb joined his brother and promptly ran Howard out before Ollie and Seb pushed hard to get us to 148, Marsh falling on his sword in an attempt to eke out one more run.

We felt somewhat satisfied at tea. It was hard going and the application of Ted and Will, together with several cameos gave us a total that looked ripe for defending.

An early wicket from Ollie looked on-trend, could Bexley Park grind it out as we had? They had other ideas. Malik played himself in while Williams had a swing. Malik then joined in after Akhil almost had him twice off the edge. The pair put on a very handy 46 off the next nine overs with the boundaries apparently now in reach. Ted took over from Ollie and Seb came on at the other end. Seb did for Williams as a sure-handed Ted held an uppish drive to mid-off.

Bexley Park now had their key pair in the middle with Fisher and Malik looking poised to chase down the target. Ted was unfortunate that a difficult chance from Malik at leg gully was shelled. Ziggy then took over from Ted and arrested the run rate by posing new problems for the hosts.

The drinks break saw the lads process how starkly different Bexley Park’s approach to the pitch was to our own. Gentleness would force more than force would becalm the oppo; Ollie stood down his seam section and sought those wise and slow.

Ziggy and Seb continued, their variations both stifling the batsmen, including a much needed maiden each, but offering opportunity for braver shots. Malik tried one too many as a Horner dart looped up high off his edge to fall to Howard at first slip, Snellers opting for mime to communicate it should be a family affair rather than using his own gloves.

The breakthrough felt significant but Bexley Park carried on regardless, working Jay hard on the offside boundary and keeping the ring on their toes to stop singles. Scriv put his body on the line to keep us in it while a returning Ted bowled tight and Howard replaced Seb. Despite this effort, the hosts had reached 110 by the 28th over, coinciding with the end of a brief sunny spell.

Howard then sent down six balls for one run and we had a sniff. Considering the conditions, a few tight enough overs put the game in the balance so Bexley Park became more aggressive. Then came Ted’s falling grab to take a sublime caught and bowled. Ever wedded to calamity, Scott pulled a calf muscle but remained and still Bexley Park came, pushing singles and twos hard.

The last over came with four needed to win. Ollie stepped up. Dot ball. Dot ball. Hit and run - pushing for two but Akhil’s cool head at mid-off cut them short with a direct hit. Three needed from three. Single taken. Then a dot. With one to tie and two win from the last ball the batsmen agreed to run. The new man could only dead bat Ollie’s accuracy and Scott hobbled over to run out a man well short. Ice cold over from the skipper, capping off a wonderful team effort. Turned out a goodun this one.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Ted Marsh	bowled	4	0	70
James Scrivener	bowled	0	0	4
Will Blease	run out	1	0	39
Paul Seldon	caught	1	0	9
Scott Landers	bowled	1	0	6
Howard Horner	run out	0	0	3
Seb Horner	not out	0	0	4
Ollie Marsh	run out	0	0	3
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	dnb	0	0	0
David Bowen	dnb	0	0	0
Akhil Anand	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Ollie Marsh	4.0	1	6	1
Akhil Anand	5.0	0	37	0
Ted Marsh	7.0	0	26	1
Seb Horner	6.0	1	24	2
David Bowen	7.0	1	26	0
Howard Horner	6.0	0	24	0