Knockers Vs Newenden

Lose :: Played on Sunday 26th May 2024

Newenden
196-10

Knockers
113-10

Match Report

A hastily arranged additional Knockers fixture has often proved difficult to fill. However, the temptation of a fine BBQ and Kuts’ credit card behind the bar saw 11 in the book in no time at all for a trek towards the South coast to Newenden. As the witching hour arrived, eight Knockers stood tall with first-time captain, Prof ready to lead them out to field for 30 overs having lost the toss. Newenden kindly subbed in two players to get things going while JT made the epic journey from Bath to rendezvous with Jah and the team wait expectantly (not really) on Guido who had promised to join at some point. A passing youngster was roped in to join the team and miraculously, Knockers had 11 players on the field.

Kuts opened up the hill with Rups holding up the other end. With the deck still rather wet, there was little in the pitch for the openers and the pair toiled doggedly for 11 overs without gaining a wicket as the hosts moved on to 90. In true Knockers spirit the more experienced players in the side rallied round the new captain with plenty of advice on bowling tactics and field changes. First change brought Browning and the Starman to the attack and it soon brought rewards. Ziggy opened with three dots followed by a wicket and Knockers were rolling. When drinks were taken some expected squash - instead the fielding team were furnished with a tray of tequila shots courtesy of CK. They obviously did the job; the tight spell by two class bowlers continued to turn Knockers fortunes, with 6 wickets falling for only 34 runs in the 8 overs either side of drinks. Restricting the hosts to under 200 suddenly felt on. Ben in particular rattled through some of his ’former’ team mates to end up with tidy figures of 4-0-11-4.

Into the final 10, Knockers experimented with their bowling options, the local lad Hugo proving one to watch to the future, with a classy two overs of good lines but no reward. Then followed two each for Jah and JT and three for The Prof - all offering tempters for the tail to go after -although perhaps not using the advantage of landing on the ball on the deck as much they could. The Prof’s arm ball once again did the job with a very well taken stumping by Oli and one caught in the deep. JT’s flatter ball clattered the stumps of the number 10 and it was all done in the last over when another mis-timed hoist went to hand. With 196 on the board and the smell of a sumptuous barbeque wafting across the square, Knockers walked off feeling a good job done and chasable score.

A superb tea was taken in a leisurely fashion and the good company, as well as the burgers, sausages and cakes were enjoyed by all.

After much discussion on the batting order, Jay and Jah took to the field to chase down what felt a well-within-reach total on a rapidly drying pitch. At first it seemed the Newenden opening bowler was heading over the rope to retrieve one of the many lost balls from the neighbours’ gardens. It was only the sight of their keeper standing 20 yards back on pitch that had had all the bounce and carry of a vet’s flannel, that brought the realisation that the tall, 17-year-old’s mark was almost at the boundary (to be fair it’s a fairly short boundary). Suddenly talk of ’knocking these off quickly’ faded as rapidly as the ball whistled pass the openers’ bats. In was not long before Jah was skittled to bring O. Boreham to the crease - chasing 4 for his historic milestone of 2000 runs for the club. With the weight of this expectation, came an uncharacteristically patient start to the innings. With 4 scored and the bat raised in acknowledgement of the applause from the boundary - normal swashbuckling service was resumed. Four, Four, Four, Four, Wicket.

Meanwhile, Jai was finding a rhythm, before falling LBW to their pacy opener at the start of the next over. With 41-3 on the board, Knockers looked to the middle order to steady the innings. Ben showed promise scoring steadily, ably supported by James Mitchell, before both perished, caught, looking to push the score on. Our local support, Hugo, hung in there for a while, but was only able to score 3 before also being caught, while Rups returned having not troubled the scorer. This left a tail of Ziggy, Kuts and the Prof with the deficit still in three figures.

The tail started to wag as the runs came. The 100 mark was passed and a glimmer of hope, much like the Kentish sun, started to poke through the gloom. Unbeknown to the watching crowd, Ziggy had also passed a Knockers milestone, joining the 1000+ runs club. As always, Kuts was enjoying himself playing square of the wicket. After picking up a gorgeous four through square leg a second opportunity presented itself. Never one to miss out on a chance to sweep to the rope, it was dispatched. Ziggy was half-way down the track to offer congratulations on another boundary, before the realisation that a special catch had been nabbed to break the partnership.

Prof walked to crease knowing that a captain’s innings of epic proportions was needed if Knockers were to perform a Lazarus-like comeback. It didn’t start well, with an errant slash, fortunately sailing past the slips to get off the mark. A nice cut square for four could have settled the nerves, but instead only contributed to baseless self-confidence and next ball the innings was over - Knockers 113 all out.

A glorious day to be a Knocker, with great hosts, and a game played in just the right spirit. Historic and well-deserved milestones to two great stalwarts of the club. Cricket, if not the Knockers, the winner.

JM

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Jai Shah	lbw	4	0	16
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	bowled	0	0	0
Oli Boreham	bowled	5	0	21
Ben Browning	caught	4	0	14
James Mitchell	caught	0	0	15
James Thompson	caught	0	0	2
Harry Miller	caught	0	0	2
Rupesh Vara	bowled	0	0	0
David Bowen	not out	3	0	14
Christian Kutner	caught	2	0	10
John Mitchell	lbw	1	0	5

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Christian Kutner	6.0	0	51	0
Rupesh Vara	5.0	0	34	0
David Bowen	6.0	1	23	2
Ben Browning	4.0	0	11	4
Harry Miller	2.0	0	15	0
Jayatheerth Seetharaman	2.0	0	12	0
John Mitchell	3.0	0	35	2
James Thompson	1.5	0	8	2

 

Match Photos