Knockers Vs Belvedere

Win :: Played on Sunday 31st July 2022

Belvedere
141-6

Knockers
144-6

Match Report

Knockers voyaged to Belvedere CC (est. 1913) this week for a scratchy, sometimes engaging, sometimes stagnant first victory under increasingly less make-shift captain Ziggy. If Jos Buttler thought that the win/loss ratio under the first nine games of his captaincy was poor, it was nothing compared to the plight of the Starman who had failed to register a W. The knockers amassed what was agreed to be a strong team to overcome this duck.

The pitch was dry as sandpaper and all agreed that it would turn square. Thus, after losing the toss, it made complete sense to bowl 14 overs straight of seam. Agnew (7-0-45-0) ran in hard at first, and then less and less hard as his gargantuan effort up the hill saw him get unlucky as Scholes (74*) and Grundley (33) enjoyed using the pace to their advantage on a quick outfield. Randall (7-2-18-0), also running up the hill, looked the more likely of the two to take a much needed wicket, hitting a good length with a number of strong LBW shouts customarily turned down as it was a Sunday.

Whether the turn to spin was an example of tactical masterclass from Mr Stardust or whether the openers had bowled their legal quota of overs is beyond doubt. However, the potent combination of Anand (3-0-13-1) and Horner (7-2-12-2) turned the game on its head. Immediately Horner had the dangerous Grundley caught and bowled and Anand slipped one past the defences. At drinks things looked hopeful.

The captain (6-0-30-2) decided his time had come now that the best batsmen were dismissed and proceeded to literally turn it from one strip to another. Fireworks nearly erupted when a controversial run out decision was given not out (it was, after all, a Sunday) and the incensed Ziggy took the moral high ground after five overs of despair. Two wickets in his next over certainly helped. Cameos from Calver, JT and V. Shah (including his first Knockers wicket) left the team with a very gettable target of 142.

Tea was a leisurely affair, lasting 45 minutes despite there not in fact being tea. The batting order was changing by the second, with members suggesting we mix up our order, a certain club vice-captain declaring that putting our best bats in first was “just a bit off”. I am sure you know what happened next.

The seemingly innocuous pitch suddenly turned itself on and the knockers felt as if they were on a day five dustbowl in the UAE. J. Shah (2) and E. Marsh (11) struggled to get the pace of the nagging opening bowlers who both seemed content to slip a few pea rollers under the bat. Thompson (20) looked to be getting into his stride as Landers (8) dealt only in fours but they too fell to the guile of this Belvedere attack. The morale in the camp was dipping. V. Shah went out to the steady the ship, looking more likely to decline a run than get out. Calver (0) came and went after getting a very harmless ball first up but the man of the hour, S Horner (57*) stole the show for the 3.8 fans who had come to watch.

A potent partnership began between these two batsmen, different in their approach but united in their aims. Once they had agreed that it was in fact safe to run singles, the scoreboard began to tick and Horner especially started to find the boundary rope. What had been a stuttering innings so far had suddenly burst into life. Nails were bitten, beers were consumed, the Euro 2022 final was watched. Shah gave way to Bowen (5*) who did a good job of supporting the weapon at the other end. With 21 needed off 18 surely there was still time to throw the game away. Horner refused, hitting a selection of glorious strokes, finishing with a well timed clipped for 6 over midwicket. Well played, sir.

Ziggy had his victory. The England women had their cup. The Knockers had a pleasant afternoon.

RC

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Jai Shah	caught	0	0	2
Ted Marsh	bowled	2	0	11
James Thompson	bowled	3	0	20
Matt Landers	caught	2	0	8
Vinit Shah	bowled	2	0	16
Richard Calver	bowled	0	0	0
Seb Horner	not out	8	1	57
David Bowen	not out	0	0	6
Akhil Anand	dnb	0	0	0
Hector Agnew	dnb	0	0	0
George Randell	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Hector Agnew	7.0	0	45	0
George Randell	7.0	2	18	0
Seb Horner	7.0	2	12	2
Akhil Anand	3.0	0	14	1
David Bowen	6.0	0	30	2
Richard Calver	2.0	0	6	0
Vinit Shah	2.0	0	11	1
James Thompson	1.0	0	2	0