Knockers Vs Farningham

Win :: Played on Sunday 1st August 2021

Knockers
172-3

Farningham
167-5

Match Report

The 1st of August and the first game back after tour saw Knockers field a side including five debutants. A mass influx of Edinburgh University players collided with a smattering of Londoners to combine into the ideal makeup of 9 batsmen and two bowlers. Needless to say, this week was a victory for sportsmanship which papered over the cracks on intense competition in a clash for the ages.

After completing the mass introductions in the changing room, stand-in skipper Calver won the toss and, so as not to upset the absent Ollie Marsh, opted to bat, knowing very little about the calibre of his team. The opening partnership of Landers searching for form and Alfie Gibbs, no longer sporting the moustache and headband which graced Kent last year, started steadily, Alfie charging the fourth ball of the innings and Scott nearly running them both out on the first with a chain of “yes, yes, no, go on then, my fault, sorry, actually yes”. Landers was bowled for a handy 5 before the fireworks began.

Naidu (60) saw fit to tee off, testing the outfield and manipulating the field nicely. Gibbs continued to play a very gentlemanly innings, opting not to hit to the short boundary for fear of breaking the assumed gentleman’s agreement not to take on the houses. Instead, he saw fit to give the fielders some sporting catching practice, all of which they denied catching in a particularly sporting way. It was at this point that the opposition keeper, standing up to every bowler regardless of action, was undeterred seeing Gibbs bob and weave in the face of the most unsporting barrage of beamers. He subsequently was substituted after his box was tested aggressively and Landers kindly went on to field and sportingly dropped a catch of Gibbs.

After a battery of straight drives, Naidu was replaced with a busy looking Will Brettle (12), keen to impose himself on the game. After failing to impose himself on the game Dave Bowen (8) held down an end whilst Gibbs (78*), somewhat forlornly, carried his bat. The heavens (and bar) opened after 26.3 overs which saw Knockers declare in a very sporting manner.

Farningham were less than interested in batting and settled in to watch the Hundred but Landers skilfully hung around the covers in the pouring rain suggesting that there was hope yet. A wily Calver was able to negotiate sportingly that the opposition should bat for 28 overs chasing a target of 172 and the game was in the balance.

Agnew (0-17) took the new ball but struggled with his control on a wet outfield and Richards (1-26) clearly has been watching too much of the Hundred, taking 11 deliveries to complete his first over in 2 years. Both challenged the bat, Richards getting some luck after a manufactured screamer by Anand that was, in practice, a regulation grab. Agnew dismissed the dangerous Taylor caught behind in the most sporting event of the day. The batsman edged the ball, the keeper, Shah, caught the ball, the batsman walked as the umpire gave it out, only for Landers to feel bad and withdraw the team’s appeal so he could bat some more. Agnew’s take on the event was “I’m fuming”. Taylor then sportingly carted Seetharaman for 18 off an over and clearly was unaware of the gentleman’s agreement (not to hit towards the houses) which had imprisoned Gibbs in his innings as he peppered the local estate at every available opportunity.

Calver (1-14) tried a few darts which Shah sharply turned into a good stumping to remove Taylor and Anand (0-19) used all of his expertise to tie down the other end as the game hung in the balance. Seetharaman (2-38) took over up the hill and drew the potent lefthanded Thursitun into a false shot holing out in the deep. With 40 needed off 5 overs there was all to play for. Bowen (1-21) suggested he could bowl some seam which was remarkably tidy and was undoubtedly a match winning spell. Naidu (also bowled a few nuggets from the other end leaving the opposition with 15 off the last over. With 6 needed off the last ball and the tension easing all agreed that the game had been particularly sporting but another win for the Knockers as the train rolls ever onwards.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Scott Landers	bowled	0	0	5
Alfie Gibbs	not out	8	0	78
Dhiren Naidu	caught	4	3	60
Will Brettle	bowled	3	0	12
David Bowen	not out	0	0	8
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	dnb	0	0	0
Jai Shah	dnb	0	0	0
Matt Richards	dnb	0	0	0
Akhil Anand	dnb	0	0	0
Hector Agnew	dnb	0	0	0
Richard Calver	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Hector Agnew	6.0	1	23	0
Matt Richards	4.0	1	22	1
Akhil Anand	4.0	0	19	0
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	4.0	0	38	2
Richard Calver	3.0	0	18	1
David Bowen	4.0	0	21	1
Dhiren Naidu	3.0	0	20	0