Knockers Vs 70th Anniversary - OM XI

Win :: Played on Sunday 22nd August 2021

70th Anniversary - OM XI
188-10

Knockers
192-6

Match Report

22nd of August 2021 was the date of the 70th year of Knockers cricket, celebrated at the home of the 3rd / middle stump of cricket where a young ‘lumpy’ Stevens questioning why the ball continued to pass between the leg and off stump without disturbing the bails, he added the famous middle stump to create the wickets we know today. Something that over the last 70 years a multitude of Knockers bowlers have plenty to be thankful for..

Thus a collection of Knockers both past and present were brought forth at the crucible of cricket to do battle among themselves to do justice to the history of the great club on this momentous occasion.

T’was only just, how the toss was competed between 2 Marsh brothers, both recent stalwarts and leaders of the club, neither to lose a toss in battle. Fate decided that the younger T Marsh would choose his bowling options first, towards an aggressive and eclectic mix of classy Knockers players.

Opening the batting for Knockers ‘OM’ team was a returning Richard Calver with the ever enigmatic and straight off a losing 10th wicket partnership in the previous game a David ‘Ziggy’ Bowen. Opening the bowling for the Knockers ‘TM’ team was the steam train Jonah Munday, who after a steady first over (0-4) took the valuable wicket of Culver, a dangerous batsman, c &b Munday before he could get going. This brought the evergreen James Rawlins to the crease. His timing was immediately evident as he moved on to 8 before being trapped in front to a toe then bat delivery from Capt T Marsh, which was obviously obliged by the on field umpire as straight in front of the lumberyard.

At this stage the canny T Marsh opened up from the non-pavilion end with Scott ‘Spirit of Trounce’ Landers, who out foxed the experienced batsman with his outside off stump moon ball guile for his first 3 overs (0-13) before he was discovered by the batsman with 16 off his last of the spell.

The incumbent batsmen, the legendary Lynden Spencer Allen (LSA) of Cambridge light blue and Knockers average fame and D Ziggy Bowen moved the score along slowly, before a ‘special game’ moment occurred with a quite unheralded and unexpected catch from the ‘cat’ behind the stumps with a huge edge from the bowling of the beguiling Seb ‘Howard’ Horner, Boreham taking a catch behind him to much of everyone’s surprise. Horner then adding the wickets of the dangerous newbie Dale (12) and T.Marsh claiming the eventual wicket of Bowen (30) who held up a solid defence until the 15th over.

Next up was the very dangerous recent Knocker find; J.Shah who offered his own brand of offensive cricket mixed with a solid defence which proved to be a very effective back bone to the knockers ‘OM’ innings. A mix of aggressive front foot play and carefully choosing shots took J.Shah to his well deserved 50 before being finally caught by R.Calver, snaffelling one at deep fine leg with a fabulous catch to send his team mate back to the pavilion (57).

Next up was current Knockers Skip, Oli Marsh who played some bedazzling shots, miss-timing the trademark scoop before being bowled by his brother (24). The knockers ‘OM’ team now looking to try and bat out the required overs combined with the traditional Knockers aggression. 3 more final wickets would follow George Randall putting up some resistance with (16) before the ‘OM’ brigade were dismissed with a final wicket from Landers in his 3rd spell, 3 a piece for Munday, E.Marsh and Howard Seb horner and a valuable session from Akil Anand 7-0-38 and Tom Elliot also delivering a much surprising maiden when most needed. OM brigade dismissed for 188 from 33 overs.

Tea…. A real tea with a kettle full of hot tea provided by SL and OM both financially and in person with aprons appropraitley worn. After 2 years of provided our own sustinence a traditional cricket tea was much appreciated and suitably celebrated by both teams. The total posted, a very respectable total given the batting conditions and the bowling available, yes it would be true to say there were nerves, maybe anticipation in the ‘TM’ changing room. Tactics were discussed and it was agreed that Boreham and Tom Elliott were the most unprepared for batting, and as such were promptly sent out to face the music by TM.

The previous weeks opening bowler George Wallace came down the hill and Skip OM took on the task up the hill. The pace of play was set on the first ball with Boreham dispatching Wallace over the head of Bowen and short extra cover for a glorious 4. Tom ‘Tales’ Elliot taking advantage of the gap between 1st and 3rd slip for a corresponding 4 from O Marsh, before having his stumps rearranged with a quick one from the same bowler.

To the chagrin for the fielding team this brought the unquestionably classy Paul Seldon to the wicket. Knowing it’s a case of get him early or don’t get him at all, Marsh threw down some fast aggressive bowling outside off stump, inviting some playing and missing but not enough for a wicket. At the other end a wearing Boreham, having been peppered by Marsh for not wearing a helmet with short balls to the chest and shoulder, moved to a quick fire (35) with 12 off the final Marsh over before being finally caught, also off the bowling of Marsh.

Scott Lander was next in who channelled David Gowar with some absolutely exquisite front foot and back foot drives before he was out done by the difficult Kutner, mixing short balls with genuine full pitched pace. Seb ‘where’s Howard?’ Horner (28) coming in at 5 anchored the innings with the ever classy Seldon who brought the ‘TM’ version of knockers close to victory before he was retired by the Captain (70no. on our 70th anniversary) a fitting total for Knockers highest ever run scorer. With 14 needed Captain T Marsh came to the crease to finish off the chase with 192-6 chased down off just 24 overs. A fine and well deserved victory for the Knockers 1st XI.

Much quality cricket was displayed today from 2 knockers teams, on a wonderful ground with many Knockers legends in attendance. To see that we have been able to provide 2 teams for the day is an achievement in itself and unthinkable during past darker times.

What is evident is that Knocker’s cricket club on it’s 70th anniversary is a healthy club with a burgeoning spirit, a rich history and a collection of fabulous players. Who are ready to mix it with the best in the villages of Kent and encouraging new generations of Knockers to enjoy playing a wonderful game, for a wonderful club, with our own well deserved little place in the history of the sport that we all love.

Here is to another 70 years of Knocker’s cricket

Ollie's XI Innings

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Oli Boreham	caught	4	0	35
Tom Elliot	bowled	1	0	4
Paul Seldon	not out	10	1	70
Scott Landers	caught	5	0	23
Seb Horner	caught	1	0	18
Lawrence Mayne	not out	0	0	6
Akhil Anand	stumped	2	0	9
Jonah Munday	stumped	0	0	0
Ted Marsh	not out	1	0	4

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Jonah Munday	7.0	0	38	3
Scott Landers	6.0	0	48	1
Ted Marsh	5.0	0	22	3
Akhil Anand	6.0	0	38	0
Tom Elliot	3.0	1	11	0
Seb Horner	6.0	2	31	3