Knockers Vs Tenterden

Winning Draw :: Played on Sunday 2nd June 2024

Knockers
214-4

Tenterden
195-8

Match Report

Knockers v Tenterden. Hangovers, closed roads, and an inability to be on time didn’t deter Knockers from putting in a fine performance at Tenterden. Captain Young won the toss and hastily agreed to a timed match, much to the chagrin of some of his followers.

Jai and Prof opened. Jai because no one else wanted to (including himself), and Prof because he was on time and volunteered. Prof was reconsidering his enthusiasm as he stood at the non-strikers end. Their opener was bowling far too quick for a Sunday but Jai looked comfortable. Prof preferred the other opener but had to face the quick one at some point. His off stump didn’t thank him.

Matt joined Jai and the Doctor’s son continued to look at ease. The Knockers bench surmised that Matt was playing himself in after a rocky start to the season. Next ball he boomed over mid-off for four. Soon after another boundary his stumps were a mess.

Young joined Jai and bought some stability to the innings. Jai was seeing it well, but sadly saw a long hop too well and nailed it to square leg who took a good grab. Young steadily accumulated singles, much to Stevens’ dismay as the ever enthusiastic runner completely ignored cries from the Knockers faithful and Stevo himself to take it easy. A 66-run partnership was the result, with Stevo hitting some powerful boundaries while Fred may as well have taken guard on one knee ready to paddle sweep. Stevo was caught by his old nemesis WG Grace (who unusually went wicketless), allowing Jay to enter the fray.

Unbeknownst to Fred (to start with), Jay was batting with an ankle the size of a rugby ball and asked the skipper to take it easy between the wickets. Fred did not listen, as he nudged and nurdled his way to a maiden-50. Jay countered this by hitting boundaries as the pair upped the rate and the skipper declared on 213-4.

An enthusiastic umpire cut short the tea break by ringing the bell. Cries of ’f***ing hell’ and ’we’ve only just sat down’ were heard, but alas, eight Knockers took to the field. Jay was icing his ankle. Rups and JT (hungover again) convoyed somewhere so JT could charge his car. Step in the future Mrs. Sophie Stevens to sub field as hubby took the new ball.

Ziggy took over one, reluctantly. He bowled well and eventually wanted to stay on. Ask Matt Landers’ hands though and they would disagree, as the Tenterden opener took a dislike to our Matt, spanking the ball constantly at the poor cover fielder. Fred had zero sympathy and kept asking him to get tighter and tighter. Ziggy picked up a wicket caught by Joe Dale.

Stevo, with a spring in his step, five brownies in his gut, and a lover to impress, picked up a wicket in his first over plumb LBW. He was at it again as Fred took a catch at slip (yes, a Knockers wicket caught at slip) for his second. Both wickets were met in the huddle with a kiss on the lips from his better half. Many Knockers were looking jealous of Sophie kissing the great man but we had to settle for high fives. We all look forward to the day where Sophie makes her full debut, taking the new ball with Luke ’Darren’ Stevens.

Rups replaced Stevo and was straight into the thick of it. Two wickets in two balls, with the opener falling for the short ball tactic as Ziggy held on at deep backward square at the second attempt. Next ball an in swinging Yorker made a delightful mess of the stumps.

No hat-trick for Rups though as Dale and the Spin Doctor took the ball. Some unplayable deliveries were mixed in with some very playable deliveries. Both spinners obviously a fan of the ’if I don’t know what’s is coming, then the batter has no idea’ tactic. Both went wicketless, and JT graced the world with his offies. An 11-ball over followed, after which JT said ’Fred, bring yourself on please.’ The scorers became irate as they couldn’t keep up with JTs ’over-rate’ (really his wide-rate) and were appeased as he left the attack.

Ziggy returned, and Fred took over from The Blue Pill Merchant. With the required run rate at around eight-an-over, and two set batters looking good, the spin duo looked to force a result in the last nine-overs. Some good fielding and bowling left Tenterden needing 30-off the last three overs. Fred took a wicket in the third-last over. Ziggy took one in the penultimate over.

Fred took another one with the first ball of the last over with 19-needed for the win (or two wickets) but sadly Knockers couldn’t force the last two to fall, resulting in a winning draw.

Player of the Match - Sophie Wheadon

Thanks for Coming - JT

Moment(s) of the Match - every time the ball got hit to Matt

FY

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Jai Shah	caught	5	0	29
John Mitchell	bowled	0	0	1
Matt Landers	bowled	2	0	9
Freddie Young	not out	7	0	65
Luke Stevens	caught	3	0	36
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	not out	7	0	36
James Thompson	dnb	0	0	0
David Bowen	dnb	0	0	0
Vinit Shah	dnb	0	0	0
Joe Dale	dnb	0	0	0
Rupesh Vara	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
David Bowen	14.0	0	62	2
Luke Stevens	7.0	0	37	2
Rupesh Vara	4.0	0	28	2
Joe Dale	3.0	0	20	0
Vinit Shah	3.0	0	20	0
James Thompson	1.0	0	12	0
Freddie Young	4.0	1	11	2

 

Match Photos