Knockers Vs Chipping Campden

Rained off :: Played on Wednesday 26th July 2023

Knockers
166-6

Chipping Campden
20-3

Match Report

There's a reassuring simplicity to a Knockers' tour. The coming together of good men to either play good cricket or have fun trying to do so, followed by inadvisable evening choices. All shared, all pointedly important in its unimportantness. Chipping Camden's impressive ground and pav widened eyes upon arrival but rainclouds physical and metaphorical had yet to be navigated.

Outcast from Kent, Rory's cricketing island now takes the form of an annual foray into tour captaincy. One wonders how Roz fares should he be faced with furniture from Ikea - does he buy the items, get them home, unpack them, open a bottle of wine and then stare expectantly at his efforts, awaiting the shelves to build themselves? Freddie and Scott were nearest the changing room, they opened the batting.

A tidy start from the pair against swing from one end and seam at the other drifted into sequential maidens. Umpire Jonah voiced his concerns, Scott responded by getting bowled. First change saw the average age of the bowlers plummet and the run rate head in the opposite direction. Freddie's emergence as batting hero was in evidence with several cover drives and cheeky sweeps on display before he was caught and bowled. As ever, Toby batted from the off as if he been out in the middle for several hours, a hooked six cleared a twelve foot boundary fence at cow, luckily someone had the good sense to invest in decent roof slates.

Toby's half century at a strike rate of 250 saw him retire and Ted join Richard. Calvs began opening his arms while Ted's cameo was as bright as his orange sunhat, ending with a reverse sweep to gully. Dampness in the air became evident. No one had bought the groundsman a pint. Calvs (stumped) Ben (bowled), Ollie Martyn (bowled), Loz (not out), Jack (photographic evidence to the contrary but not out) rushed to make good of Roz's announcement to declare on 25overs. Tea was postponed. Knockers assembled in the field. There was a long absence of people holding cricket bats.

In rhythm not seen since half empty nightclubs on the Isle of Wight, Jonah got us underway. The groundsman was in charge of the of music but had little regard for those dancing. Ted, nursing an injury, body popped to the crease only to suddenly show off his signature middle stump move. Three times he owned the dancefloor before DJ Groundo cut the tunes and ordered the covers on.

Tea was taken. The rain lightened but not even extremely zealous Quik cricket from the Knockers crew could entice the oppo back into the game. What to do? A bar successfully supported, dinner arrangements brought forward and a circuitous but inevitable route to the one late night joint in town. The real match took place with Man Hugs chasing down the Drinks total via a complete team effort, despite a few costly overs being deposited into the booths. A winning start to the tour in many ways. After all life, like cricket, is about making the complex as simple as possible.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Scott Landers	bowled	1	0	7
Freddie Young	caught	5	0	33
Richard Calver	bowled	5	0	35
Toby Pullan	not out	8	3	55
Ted Marsh	caught	1	0	5
Ollie Marsh	bowled	0	0	7
Ollie Martyn	bowled	0	0	2
Lawrence Mayne	not out	0	0	6
Jack Quartermain	not out	0	0	9
Jonah Munday	dnb	0	0	0
Rory Goodson	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Jonah Munday	2.0	0	10	0
Ted Marsh	2.0	1	6	3

 

Match Photos