Knockers Vs Linton Park

Lose :: Played on Sunday 1st September 2024

Knockers
186-8

Linton Park
187-0

Match Report

LinDEN Park / Hadlow / LinTON park answered the call and came to the rescue on a warm, sunny summer's day, to welcome a Knockers Team comprising a healthy mix of returning club legends and debutents, hangovers and ripped trousers, and a varied bowling attack of off spin, leg spin, and 4 left arm orthodox spinners.

Much to the delight of the 5 knockers present at the toss, captain Freddie asked to bat in a timed match - tea at 4.30pm, 20 overs from 6pm. The skipper himself and JJ gallantly strode out, but a disciplined opening bowling pair gave little away. JJ was unlucky to see his stumps disturbed, Matt was caught trying to up the ante, and Molly saw a short one keep a touch low to clip the bails.

At 14-3, a rebuild was needed, and the skipper lead the way, compiling a composed and disciplined 50, rarely giving a sniff of a chance. Skip had good support from Seb, a slightly more scratchy innings but useful runs to get Knockers going. Both weathered the storm from their quicker bowlers, cashing in on the loose balls then using the sweep effectively against the spinners.

With the pair starting to up the run rate after drinks, Linton Park turned to their leg spinner. Within 3 balls, the partnership was broken - a ripping leg break turned round the legs of Seb and castled the stumps. Two overs later, and Freddie chopped on to end a top innings. A questionable waist high full toss accounted for Liam, before the leggie got his 3rd with Ziggy caught at mid-on.

Another rebuild was needed, and Blease and Ed, playing his first Knockers game for over a decade, steadied the ship. The pair were busy at the crease, running quickly, swinging hard, and putting away the bad balls, with Blease’s lofty 6 off the previously inexpensive leg-spinner a standout. Along with Barnaby’s scampered running at the end, Knockers had a competitive total at an early teabreak – 186 – 8.

A quick turnaround, and as he did with the bat, Freddie led us out with the ball, and for 11 unbroken overs, he provided a spell for the ages. The dip, the spin, the bounce was unplayable at times (words from the opener himself), with countless plays and misses and leading edges giving great drama for the literal 10s of spectators in attendance. Skip’s first wicket spun round the opener’s legs, up the hill, to somehow clip the top of off, and next ball a rank full toss was chipped straight into Ziggy’s reliable hands. An edge fell just short on the hattrick ball, but he wasn’t to be denied for long – another full-toss pinning the other opener LBW.

Knockers went for the jugular, and a strategically placed 3rd slip then gobbled up another edge to give Freddie’s 4th. And on the 11th over of his marathon stretch, another false shot, another edge to slips, and another safe catch for Blease. A richly deserved 5-wicket haul, remarkably his first for Knockers.

From the other end, Blease, Ziggy, then Ed all provided excellent support to ensure runs were kept in check. Ed himself chipped in with 2 vital wickets, including a great caught and bowled from a fierce return shot, as his variations evoked several mistakes from the batters.

Knockers backed up their bowlers in the field with great skill and determination, especially Landers in the covers, Jai in the deep, and Molly standing up to the stumps for all 36 overs of our spin assault. Not a single bye in the scorebook – an amazing feat.

At 6pm, with 20 overs left, the game was in the balance – Linton Park were 7 wickets down, but a swashbuckling No.7 swinging from the hip had put on some quick runs. Knockers pushed for the wickets that would tie up the game, and good bowling from Ford, Liam, and JJ brought several unlucky close-shaves and near misses, including a very tight stumping decision not given.

With 19 runs left to get, Knockers ramped up the pressure with tight bowling and fielding, and Linton limped towards the target, the next 5 overs bringing just 11 runs. We returned to our trump cards, and Freddie came in search for his 6th, bowling in tandem with Ziggy who had found his range. When a wild slog just cleared the back peddling Seb at mid-off, we thought it might not be our day – but a direct hit from the deep caught the batter short on the second run, and with just 2 wickets left, the remaining 4 runs to win seemed a mountain to climb.

Facing Freddie, their number 10 danced down the track and just made contact, when Molly had been primed for the stumping. Sadly, the next ball he repeated the trick and just cleared mid-on, and as the ball trickled over the rope, the match was over. Linton Park had won by 2 wickets.

All in all, Knockers had put up a valiant fight and almost had claimed a dramatic win. Kudos obviously have to go to Freddie for a 50 and a 5-for, a nailed on MOTM award if ever there was one, but also to Ed for his wickets (hopefully your next Knockers game won’t be another 10 years away), Blease for his big-hitting, and Molly for exceptional glovework throughout. And as always, the game was played in great spirits, with Freddie getting the beers in at the pavilion. Well played all.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Freddie Young	bowled	6	0	54
James Johnstone	bowled	0	0	0
Matt Landers	caught	0	0	1
Matthew Davis	bowled	0	0	1
Seb Horner	bowled	3	0	35
David Bowen	caught	1	0	10
Liam Knight	caught	0	0	0
Edward Darry	caught	2	0	20
Will Blease	not out	4	1	42
Barnaby Ford	not out	0	0	5

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Freddie Young	13.5	2	35	5
Will Blease	2.0	0	19	0
David Bowen	6.0	1	18	0
Edward Darry	5.0	0	32	2
Barnaby Ford	3.0	0	19	0
Liam Knight	5.0	0	38	0
James Johnstone	2.0	0	21	0
Seb Horner	1.0	0	6	0