Knockers Vs Shanklin

Win :: Played on Wednesday 20th July 2022

Shanklin
163-10

Knockers
165-1

Match Report

Knockers had a successful start to the 2022 IoW tour with a somewhat expedient victory at Shanklin. Toby Pullan compiled a refined century to chase down the home side’s total with Lawrence Mayne’s injury ravaged, eventful and absorbing two overs seeing him take four wickets. Other Knockers were present.

All pre-match talk centred around ‘Rozball’, a clear definition of which was pushed aside to make way for a feeling, a feeling increasingly explained by body language as the day went on. Not one to entirely disregard Knockers traditions, the toss was negotiated. Rory elected to field, parting ways with established protocol.

Jonah began proceedings in partnership with Hector, the former intimidating Shanklin’s openers with his testing line and length while Hec immediately found some healthy swing. Eleven overs passed for 28 runs such was the control but wickets were not forthcoming although a sharp chance for caught and bowled saw Hector have to the leave the field with a bruised hand.

First change allowed us to witness Rozball in action, a somewhat retrospective process of self acclaimed captaincy genius, as Freddie took over from the injured Hector, immediately taking two in two. A disgruntled home skipper had to walk following a successful lbw appeal playing back to one on leg stump. Next bat edged one to Rory whose one-handed grab just off the turf was a wonderful moment to behold.

Hector hand harmer and Shanklin overseas, Le Sueur was beginning to go through the gears as Rory brought himself on. A fifty partnership from the next six overs was not chance free but certainly an accelerated approach. Toby had looked a capable fielder but the ball was thrown to him with little knowledge of what might come next. A low full toss for a sound LBW first ball was justified by a fine display of swing bowling that followed. Hector had too little time to consider retracting his busted hand as a great grab at square saw Toby pick up his second.

Enter Lawrence. Athlete, toe model, game changer. You can have your six, said he as the next one went straight to JT’s capable hands at extra cover. Rory then staggered around from slip to grab a leg side ramp. Was it now Lozball? No, this would not stand up in court advised R. Goodson QC - the captain’s decisions are what will make this game and so it proved to be.

Could Lawrence rest up following two wickets at a cost of two injuries to groin and gluteus? No, you must stay on, it is the Rozball way. He did and it accounted for Le Sueur whose brutal innings ended in Toby’s hands before Loz earned a rest clean bowling their number nine. I say clean, if one can refer to a freak shooter as such.

Jonah’s calm, accurate and quality direct hit for a run out can have it’s own paragraph. He can’t have it to himself however; this new era is impregnated with one captain’s sagacity. Rory had chosen the precise moment to unleash the gaseous inevitability of pre match tucker which entered Jonah’s nostrils forty yards away. His need to retract his head diverted his eyes towards his target and so we knew then that Rozball was more than just a feeling.

Ollie Martyn replaced Lawrence and bowled tidily so Rory turned to Scott to up the oppo’s total. First ball went for six, third ball went to Freddie’s hands who had requested a catching position. Freddie was still staring at said hands as the ball dribbled over the rope. The theme of Rozball retrospection would continue as the remainder of the over allowed a certain T. Pullan time to ton up later on. There was a further runout attributed to Freddie but the author was too busy chuntering to himself about ruined figures to notice.

Jai opened with Ben. The pair took a while to read the deck and then Jai got going with some wonderfully timed drives. Ben was politeness itself and happily let his partner get us off to a solid start. Jai got strangled down leg to the keeper to his frustration but it bodes well for tour form.

The Pullan frat house party began. It might be churlish to suggest that Ben hung around in the kitchen while Toby manned the turntables rocking a throng of admirers at this imagined party but the metaphor is apt. Toby walked out in the seventh over with Ben on 2 and retired with a ton in the eighteenth with his more intelligent, Doctorate earning, raconteur of a brother* on 23.

Timed drives, ramps, sweeps, fielder splitting cuts. Admiration turned to sympathy for the oppo as Toby put on a masterclass. Sahin then mopped up the few remaining runs. Ben is possibly still out there batting the following morning as far as we know. Rozball is not without empathy as the captain apologised to his opposite number for unleashing such a lack of parity upon them. A ringers vs regulars pav chat emphatically answered.

Man of the match: Sam Fennessy - once is luck, twice is skill.

*Fern Cotton once smiled at him in a Costa Coffee in Berkhamstead too, Mr Toby ‘bloody good at cricket’ Pullan. So ner.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Jai Shah	caught	6	0	28
Ben Pullan	not out	3	0	26
Toby Pullan	not out	19	1	103
Sachin Rawson	not out	1	0	5
James Thompson	dnb	0	0	0
Ollie Martyn	dnb	0	0	0
Lawrence Mayne	dnb	0	0	0
Hector Agnew	dnb	0	0	0
Freddie Young	dnb	0	0	0
Jonah Munday	dnb	0	0	0
Rory Goodson	dnb	0	0	0
Scott Landers	dnb	0	0	0
Sam Fennessy	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Jonah Munday	7.0	2	15	0
Hector Agnew	5.0	0	15	0
Freddie Young	7.0	0	27	2
Rory Goodson	3.0	0	32	0
Toby Pullan	5.0	0	23	2
Lawrence Mayne	2.0	1	11	4
Ollie Martyn	1.0	0	3	0
Scott Landers	1.0	0	14	0