Knockers Vs Four Elms

Lose :: Played on Sunday 4th August 2024

Four Elms
266-7

Knockers
255-10

Match Report

Four Elms 266-7 (Anand 3-35)
Knockers 255 AO (Boreham 71)

Talent old and new took a tense game to the wire in a fixture that has yet again delivered a healthy classic to the club.

We welcomed a strong mix of stalwarts and occasionals to the lineup for a day in the sun where Knockers fielded first.

Upon losing the toss and being put in to field, early chances were hard to come by. Jah bowled an opener in his first over but he and Ted had to toil to curtail powerful hitting from the oppo. Fluid shotmaking and an electric outfield saw Four Elms build hefty momentum for their 2nd wicket as they comfortably sped along at over a run a ball for a 150-run partnership, intermittently aided by errant dives in the field. Rachel Stephens and Ziggy tied down their ends, challenging the batters with their usual guile although offering up a few boundary balls in keeping with the openers. Boreham worked tidily behind the stumps and the other opener went not long after drinks, stumped off our Starman.

As if it were ever in doubt, the mood in the Knockers camp stayed resolute, and we knew chances would keep coming following some tough catches going down. After one opener’s delightful century (that did some work to inspire our own hitting later on) & retirement, the Knockers bowling arsenal persisted with Akhil kicking off his attempts for player of the match. 3 fine wickets came up the hill from Akkers, arresting late innings momentum and keeping a manageable score in sight. Coming down the hill, Ali Basham plied some craft and tweaked his way to a wicket with a lithe return catch. A slight matter of circa 20 balls were taken to get through the Scrivener & Hodge 2 overs and Hodge hurled down a bouncer to take the wicket of a 12-year old, something he would rue in the return innings. The fans were deprived of a Prof - Matty bowling partnership, to be remedied at the next opportunity.

37 extras probably didn’t help us and we ended with a target of 267 to win. We left the field and, despite Boreham’s attempts to self-deprecate about our limited chances, there was ever optimism in the air as befits a chasing Knockers side.

All hail match teas, extremely yummy rolls and other items provided.

The prospect of the chase invited a lot of creative thinking for the batting order. Anticipating who might suit particular roles, at particular stages, is made all the more fun with the mercurial potential of the unknown in the ranks. The potential of a Matty - Boreham opening partnership was certainly clear though, and we gladly sent them out to kick things off.

Oli delighted in his post-pint coordination and took on the openers with his usual aplomb, motoring his way through the first ten overs. Matty was an ideal foil, applying his usual disciple but also recognising the game requirements as seen with a powerful straight six over the longest boundary, up the hill. We got to 88 off 10 before losing Matty and Basham came in, adopting the same tone with his second ball flying through the covers for 4. The pitch was true and the role reversals saw the oppo work hard to hold off the run rate while we picked gaps and took advantage of anything short-pitched.

Oli kept flying through the gears and made it to 71 (off not many) before falling to a catch on the boundary; the tone was very much set for the rest of us. Ali, after a couple of swings to the rafters (with no dings), was trapped leg before and it was over to the middle order to keep things moving.

Rachel settled in and had to watch partners Scrivener, Prof, Jah and Hodge come and go in quick succession before he fell, castled by the opposition youngster. The narrative of our middle order was punctuated by such moments as Prof arriving at 50% of his shots before the ball had been bowled, a �how do the pad straps work?� (Hodge, J) and Jah reverse sweeping �for 4� and ponderously forgetting that balls slow down a bit quicker towards uphill boundaries. Conversations post-game turned towards when we can get a net in.

Yet, amongst tumbling wickets and a climbing run rate of 9 overs left to score 100, a why not mentality set in. Ziggy and Akhil, at 9 & 10, possessed themselves of a carefree spirit and liberally kept up with the rate, making big inroads as the sun began to set. The scorers shifted to the scoreboard-adjacent position to accompany every ball as the game neared its conclusion.

Ziggy fell, bowled while chasing another big hit. Excited by the hitting on show, Ted followed Boreham’s example and took the starman’s willow for the final efforts at the chase. With 4 overs left and 53 to win, Ted and Akkers smiled at the challenge ahead. 42 runs came off the next 2.3 overs and whispers turned to greater focus in the middle as we had our range and could see the gaps available. The next ball came, out the hand, flying, lofted, towards an expectant Akhil, romantic in the air as it wobbled and weaved, with such little pace that both Anand and Marsh eyes glinted as they saw Scott’s reflection in the glistening seam, down, looping, too much loop, missing Akker’s swing as he’d advanced down the wicket, gobbled by the keeper who took off the bails, game over. Opposition cheers and Knockers despair.

Ted, Akhil, the whole team knew what could have been, but it was such a well-mannered effort where the enjoyable act of trying will be remembered. Smiling handshakes followed and any exasperation was kept at bay in classic Knockers style with a post-game drink and download as we yet again enjoyed reflecting on the spirit of the game that is so thriving in our camp. So much so for some, that Rachel Stevo purchased a new bat from the clubhouse, apparently at a bargain price.

We now look ahead to Sunday’s charity day at the Vine, a Knockers invitational side will be playing (featuring Ted and Ollie) and is open to more players so should anyone fancy it, please get in touch.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Oli Boreham	caught	10	1	71
Matt Landers	caught	3	6	26
Alistair Basham	lbw	2	0	16
Luke Stevens	bowled	4	0	23
James Scrivener	bowled	0	0	0
John Mitchell	bowled	0	0	6
J Hodge	run out	0	0	0
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	caught	1	0	8
David Bowen	bowled	4	0	22
Akhil Anand	bowled	5	0	27
Ted Marsh	not out	4	6	35

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Ted Marsh	6.0	1	40	0
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	4.0	0	36	1
Luke Stevens	6.0	0	49	0
David Bowen	7.0	0	52	1
Akhil Anand	6.0	0	35	3
Alistair Basham	4.0	0	27	1
James Scrivener	1.0	0	13	0
J Hodge	1.0	0	10	0