Knockers Vs Chislehurst & West Kent

Win :: Played on Sunday 29th August 2021

Chislehurst & West Kent
228-10

Knockers
230-6

Match Report

Knockers made their way to a cloudy Chislehurst on what would prove to be a triumphant last ball extravaganza. Skipper Akhil was adamant he would be able to twist the opposition’s arm to skip the toss and just let us bat. However, when the opposition’s giant of a captain approached, that plan swiftly disappeared and it was clear that a David vs Goliath contest was on the cards. He went on to graciously lose the toss and Knockers were made to bowl for a 40 over game.

Knockers opened up with Jonah and Mark who got the Chislehurst batsmen off to a steady start with an array of wides and long-hops, despite Chislehurst’s own Kev (playing for Knockers) giving them advice on how to get the batsmen out. Jonah managed to produce beauty to snick off their left hander, only for keeper Jai shah to successfully push out of the way of first slip.

First change saw Ziggy come on, not to bowl leg spin, but seam up and our first introduction of “spin” with Neil. Neil provided the much-needed breakthrough trapping their left hander for 45 leaving Chislehurst 83-1 off 15. Debutant Nandesh was soon handed the ball by the skipper and picked up his first scalp soon after with a beautiful bit of flight and guile. Some tight bowling and a few more wickets to the slower bowlers meant Chislehurst were 109-4 at drinks, with 2 wickets a piece for the slower bowlers.

The Chislehurst middle order decided to fight back after drinks and steadied the ship, whilst knockers missed the chances being offered to them. Ziggy was reintroduced with his leg spin and got their number 5 stumped, allowing Jai to redeem his earlier drop. A hungover Cal and Skipper Akhil came on at the end picking up a wicket a piece and restricting Chislehurst to 227 off their 40.

Jai and Mark opened up for Knockers and got us off steady start with boundaries coming regularly. Unfortunately cramp caught up with Mark, and with the opposition skipper obliging a runner requested. Cal rose to the opportunity and rushed in. The three of them continued to make steady progress, with Jai passing his 50 before Mark (44) was bowled trying to accelerate further leaving Knockers 110 for 1 off 17. Ziggy was the next man in but only stayed briefly (4) before being caught. Our Chislehurst ringer, Kev, joined Jai and the two continued steadily. Jai continued carving the Chislehurst bowlers all around the park with some clean and surprisingly elegant hitting. Kev was trapped LBW and Shah snr joined his son at the crease. This father-son fairy tale was short lived with Jai skying the ball into the air on 93 after Chislehurst kindly decided to spread the field on the last ball of an over so he could take a single.

Prof joined Shah snr at the crease. The equation sat at 50 of 10. The two experienced campaigners tried their hardest to accelerate, Prof bowled for 3 bringing Cal to the crease. Knockers were 191 off 35 needing 37 off the final 5. Cal providing some clean hitting, but Shah snr fell in the 37th over bringing in Nandesh with 28 off the final 3. With 5 runs a piece coming off the 38th and 39th the pair needed 18 off the last over. The situation was tense – the light was poor, a pink ball was being used, Chislehurst entrusted their leg spinner to defend the runs, Knockers had Cal and Nandesh at the helm.

First ball – driven through the off-side by Cal for 4. At this point Chislehurst decided to put all but 2 fielders on the boundaries. Single off the 2nd. The field came in, 3rd ball was flicked for 4 by Nandesh, single off the 4th. 8 off 2 needed. Every fielder apart from the bowler and keeper were on the boundary at this point, but this didn’t matter as Cal launched the ball over cow corner for 6 off the 5th ball. 2 off the last ball. Field came in. Bowler dragged it down and Cal dispatched the ball through the covers for 4 and Knockers took it on the last ball.

A great game with a brilliant result!

NP

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Jai Shah	caught	14	2	93
Mark McKiernan	bowled	8	0	44
David Bowen	caught	0	0	4
Kevin Barnes	lbw	4	0	21
Vinit Shah	caught	1	0	7
John Mitchell	bowled	0	0	3
Callum McCulloch	not out	3	1	24
Nandesh Patel	not out	1	0	6
Akhil Anand	dnb	0	0	0
Neil Dave	dnb	0	0	0
Jonah Munday	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Jonah Munday	5.0	0	28	0
Mark McKiernan	4.4	0	30	2
David Bowen	8.0	0	31	1
Neil Dave	5.0	0	18	2
Nandesh Patel	7.0	0	38	2
Callum McCulloch	5.0	0	37	1
Akhil Anand	5.0	0	32	1