Knockers Vs Meopham

Win :: Played on Sunday 23rd June 2024

Knockers
191-9

Meopham
180-7

Match Report

Knockers 191 ao (Seldon 80)

Meopham 181-7 (Blease 3-14, Horner 1-17, O Marsh 2-21)

Knockers win 35/35 game by 10 runs in a thrilling encounter that featured a delightful match tea and el profesor securing the win with a tense death over.

Before the start of play, David ’Starman Ziggy’ Bowen was presented with his 75th cap baggy, along with some carefully plotted words from an absent Scott about our Charlton-loving friend. Knockers then chose to bat on a green track that threatened to not offer significant bounce, in the hope to wear down opposition batters in the return innings with another strong bowling unit.

Snellers and Matt made their way to the middle and Paul dropped his usual aplomb against disciplined bowling with some flourished drives earning early boundaries. Matt unfortunately made way, caught out to a tricky delivery that rose on him, and Akhil marched in.

A solid and patient partnership formed, Seldon’s elegance and Anand’s temperament occupied the crease well. Anand fell as he rushed onto a shot that saw him caught and Ted walked in and seemed content to waste his strike with choppy swings that weren’t troubling the square. Another strong partnership formed and Paul continued to up his ante through the overs with same rangey 6s and thoughts turned towards acceptable targets just shy of the 200 mark. Ted streaked into the 20s and then fell, a straight one taking down the timber.

And it was with Ke$ha in mind that John Mitchell strode in, primed and ready to deliver at 5. One of the opposition’s more potent bowlers could do nothing as Prof scythed through the off side, whacking boundaries and doggedly running his 1s & 2s. His exuberance saw him bowled; it was short but it was oh so sweet as well. Paul eventually lost out and was bowled for 80, another solid effort that would earn him a slot in the slips for most of the following innings.

Blease and Seb came in late and found the ropes well before falling, and Luke held his end well at the end of the innings with some big hits growing the total up to 191. An aesthetic finish saw us lose our final wicket on the final ball of the innings and we headed in for a very welcome match tea.

There was a lot of heat in the air and Meopham laid down a continental smorgasbord that replenished player stocks well.

Bleasey and Stevo were the obvious opening pair and fans were treated to a healthy combination of Will’s pinpoint bowling that charged 3 early wickets and Luke’s resolute darts that arched around wafting shots and eventually gained a well deserved scalp in his penultimate over with a barnstorming caught and bowled, fully reflective of the man’s perseverance all day.

Neil took over from Bleasey and generated the usual challenging line we’ve become such fans of, with a few errant ones offering up boundaries to the oppo. Ziggy took over at the other end and the bowling partnership was a tight test of the batters and fielding side as the game momentum ebbed and flowed in the setting sun. Migrating fans, unfortunately unable to attend the game, lowered their windows as they drove past to shout their words of enthusiasm at the sight of such rich entertainment.

As time progressed, the required rate was climbing but by no means out of sight and consistent efforts in the field, as individuals and as a unit to put up with changing settings, was a big factor as we began to turn the screw. Seb came on for Neil and delivered a 7-over spell that was pivotal in slowing the runs and removing their dangerman with a well taken caught & bowled, also ending a partnership that threatened to really take the game to us.

Ollie replaced Ziggy and challenged the batters, forced shots being the undoing for their late order hitters. Ted offered the penultimate over that went for 9 and handed over to Prof for the final over, all results still possible. Nerves were consistently tested and calmed as J Mitch treated us to a play within a play with some wides giving the oppo a surviving glimmer of hope that they could pull off the chase.

Boundaries were hit and sweepers were used with John clamping down at the end and Meopham ultimately fell 10 short. Great encounter and it was lovely to see the Knockers hang around afterwards for a drink and a natter, the health of the game very much alive.

Shout outs to Snellers for his batting, Akhil for taking the gloves, Luke for relentless efforts in the field and of course Ziggy.

TM

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Paul Seldon	bowled	4	6	81
Matt Landers	caught	0	0	0
Akhil Anand	caught	2	0	20
Ted Marsh	caught	4	0	26
John Mitchell	bowled	2	0	15
Will Blease	caught	2	0	10
Seb Horner	caught	0	1	13
David Bowen	bowled	0	0	0
Luke Stevens	not out	1	1	11
Neil Dave	bowled	0	0	0
Ollie Marsh	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Luke Stevens	6.0	0	26	1
Will Blease	4.0	0	14	3
Neil Dave	6.0	0	36	0
David Bowen	7.0	0	38	0
Seb Horner	7.0	0	17	1
Ollie Marsh	4.0	0	21	2
Ted Marsh	1.0	0	9	0
John Mitchell	1.0	0	17	0