Knockers Vs Staplehurst

Rained off :: Played on Sunday 18th June 2023

Knockers
182-7

Staplehurst
0-0

Match Report

Five Londoners set off from London Bridge, with JT once again nowhere to be seen following a rigorous evening of training (more to follow), for the annual Staplehurst fixture. Conversations around the game’s format and a quick club history lesson raised spirits, in the wake of a potentially rain-affected game, only to arrive to a glorious afternoon in Staplehurst.

With the team gathered and pitch inspected, skipper Ollie Marsh successfully negotiated a 25-over game and won his first toss of the season and the Knockers were batting. Jay Seetharaman and Chris Bogie were sent out with aspirations of turning back the clocks and recreating their glory days from university. Hopes were raised after a steady initial couple of overs, with the batters confident that the new ball had successfully been seen off and the Knockers ready to take the game to opposition with Jay hitting the game’s first boundary.

The optimism was short-lived as Jay took great offence to the keeper standing up to the stumps in response to batting outside the crease, dutifully allowing this egregious act to get his to his head, edging behind trying to play a cut off the middle stump. Not one to let the momentum die, Chris then attempted to ramp the second opening bowler - only to unfortunately top edge to slip and make the long walk back to the shed.

In walked Matt Landers, determined to abuse himself into batting sensibly, and Ziggy Bowen, nursing an injured finger and the demons of the previous game assured that the promotion to 4 was the captain’s punishment, to steady the ship. A fine 117-run partnership, the club seventh highest for the 3rd wicket, followed with both batters scoring boundaries for fun to overcome some dodgy running. With both batsmen steadily approaching their respective half centuries and the risk of an extended rain-interruption and stint in the bar, the batters tried to take on the boundary riders with Matt getting a well made 47 and Bowen getting to 48 (jug avoidance from both!).

In walked Akhil who started off with a crisp single off his first ball and applauded for what would have been a most well deserved century in the previous game. Showing the eye of a man clearly in form, Akhil steadily proceeded to hit boundaries all around the ground quickly racing away to a 21 from 13 balls. He was ably supported from the other end by Ed Marsh, sporting his new orange bucket hat (spoils of winning the IPL sweepstakes and channeling his inner Shubman Gill), scoring a quick 14 before swinging at one ball too many. James Thomson, having been told he’d be batting at 12 for arriving after the first 10 overs snuck past the skipper to come in at 7, to continue the push for an above-par total. Akhil however was determined to make him pay for his tardiness with quick singles, with poor JT barely making it to the other end on each occasion. Realising running between the wickets wasn’t for this fateful day, JT promptly swung for the fences- dispatching the ball into the trees over the short mid-wicket boundary. The fun was however short-lived as he found the long on fielder in the next over.

Akhil and Luke Stevens continued ticking the scoreboard over to take the Knockers to 182-5 off 24.5 overs. The skipper had clearly been following the action in the first Ashes test and wary of the impending rain, took the brave call to declare the innings with a ball to spare - confident that the Knocker’s first innings total was more than enough to defend with a bowling attack comprising of Scott’s deceptive floaters and Freddie’s guile.

With the rain continuing to fall steadily, tea was called with both teams proceeding to making use of the refurbished clubhouse to continue conversations from earlier rain interruptions. Lessons of car financing and the state of the economy were provided by Matt before JT stepped in to inform us that he was an international athlete for Team Great Britain. His state and tardiness explained by him preparing for the 2023 Beer Mile Challenge (four pints interspersed with four laps of a one mile course) in Chicago later this summer, we wish you well on your brave endeavours, JT.

The rain gods however decided at this point that the day was not for cricket, with the game unfortunately having to be called off without a ball being bowled in the second innings. Not to be dispirited by the weather, plans were promptly made for a team lunch and an expedition to Pizza Express followed with fines planned for those who missed out.

JS

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	caught	1	0	6
Chris Bogie	caught	0	0	5
Matt Landers	caught	7	1	47
David Bowen	caught	9	0	48
Ted Marsh	bowled	0	2	14
Akhil Anand	not out	3	0	21
James Thompson	caught	0	1	7
Luke Stevens	run out	0	0	5
Scott Landers	dnb	0	0	0
Ollie Marsh	dnb	0	0	0
Freddie Young	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts