Knockers Vs Penshurst Park

Lose :: Played on Sunday 29th June 2025

Knockers
243-4

Penshurst Park
244-1

Match Report

Knockers Vs Penshurst Park 29.06

35-over game

Knockers 243-4
Penshurst Park 244-1

===

A hotly-anticipated return to Bitchet Green started with a won toss and new team bat courtesy of Rory’s hubris; optimism was high. Oh and Snellers was fit and firing.

An eventful first couple of overs included a Snellers drive that ended with their opener navigating Kent hospitals for a minor injuries clinic and Scott quacking golden to the ball of the century down the troublesome slope. Losing Scott was but the first sign of a pitch unwilling to give bowlers any clear idea of where was best to pitch it; some pea rolled, a few spat up and a lot darted left and right (neither side claiming they’re that good as spin / seam maestros).

It is impressive, therefore, that our run rate motored after a slow first 10. Mathematically akin to seeing of the new ball but in reality getting to grips with the pitch, Seb and Snellers began to operate in boundaries, using a strong dose of full tosses and short balls through the dry and rapid outfield. Mike Sharpe filled in for their departed player in the field, and got himself firmly in the spirit of the game’s good graces for all his efforts as he eyed up 70 overs of fielding in high heat.

12 shy of the 100-run partnership, Seb fell to a back of a lengther that didn’t rise above his ankles, his fluent 35 giving the man at the other end plenty of breathing room to build his expansive shotmaking and getting to 50. Ali B joined the action and tried to hockey slap a 5th-stump line ball towards square leg, his top edge gracing him with 4 runs over the keeper’s head. It was all the kick start he needed to accelerate from there with only 5 runs of his eventual 47 coming not as boundaries before snicking off. It was that kind of day for Snellers too, his sublimely technical approach had the camera crew purring and we regularly lost track of time, mouths agape, as he exploited gaps with aplomb. Under some stern instructions, Matt took Ali’s spot and blasted his first ball towards Seal (not sure how to deliver this idea to captains in a secure way but it seems he responds well to negative reinforcement).

Paul, having early doors questioned whether or not to stand on his own stumps because of the unreadable pitch, cantered to his 3 figures and was recalled to the bench so that El Profesor could pick up the pace a bit. He guided a sublime four through backward point, added a couple more runs but fell while trying to keep things going, Gabe his replacement.

Gabe continued his fine debüt season with a 4 and two 6s to close out the innings and we had a nice spring in our step with 243 under our belts. A big thank you to Mike and Jonners for their stints in the field for Penshurst, hopefully the tanlines are looking healthy today.

Tea was absolute mustard (thank you, Ted).

Heading out to defend our hefty total that required just under 7s, Ted had a fine sense of creative options at his disposal. Prof & Jonners, Jonners & Prof, a brand new cherry. It certainly whetted the whistles.

Much like the oppo before us, both toiled with the pitch’s recalcitrance and mixed up solid lengths (probably a good idea) with alternative effort balls. Jonners got closer and closer to bouncing their 6ft+ opener, almost surpassing his waist, while Prof’s dedication to launching an Apollo mission led to a heap of action for the boundary riders. Gabe and Ed took on first change duties and struggled to convert mistakes into chances for the first wicket, both bats taking the game to us with composure in the heavy heat of the day. The run rate was easing along and it became clear that rotations were needed, too late the skipper would later reflect. Mike, Seb and Ziggy were called in to see where they could probe. Mike, who had given so many KMs to his fielding efforts, was rudely rewarded with only 2 overs before Ziggy was brought on.

Chances were indeed hard to come by and our difficulty in finding a discipline was epitomised when a Ziggy full toss was towered towards Scott at deep mid-on for a once in a decade take that caused a knock to his bonce in the process, alas the full toss was actually somewhat above the waist horizontal and was called NB. It was a tremendous grab from our fielder of the day (saving many a boundary down the slope) so we’ll see what comes next time Ziggy sets a field.

When drinks came after the 27th over, only 20 runs were needed. A throw of the dice was required and who better to turn to than 2 relations who had been ostentatiously warming up their bowling actions for the last few overs, Landers M & S for some craft and guile with which to go down fighting. What a feeling it was to go back into the field with this gambit tipping our swords, a collective murmuring grew in the sky as the starlings of Bitchet Green sounded, "The horn of Helm [Landers]hand shall indeed sound in the deep one last time. Let this be the hour when we draw [moon balls] together. Fell deeds awake. Now for wrath, now for ruin, and the red dawn”. (Editor, if I can interrupt Tolkien for a moment and inform you that Ted, at long-on, took the only legit catch at of our efforts at this late juncture).

They finished off the chase with a 4 in the 30th over, adding one more lost ball to a day of much bush whacking.

Thanks to Penshurst for a great showing in the heat, looking forward to trying again next year!

Onto Old Oaks for a livener on Friday.

PS. We have a thigh pad and an Ellesse cap if anyone wants to claim those.

TM

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Paul Seldon	not out	12	3	100
Scott Landers	bowled	0	0	0
Seb Horner	bowled	6	0	36
Alistair Basham	caught	9	1	47
Matt Landers	not out	0	3	21
John Mitchell	caught	1	0	6
Gabe Musker	not out	1	2	16
Ted Marsh	dnb	0	0	0
David Bowen	dnb	0	0	0
Michael Sharpe	dnb	0	0	0
James Johnstone	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
John Mitchell	4.0	0	37	0
James Johnstone	4.0	0	22	0
Gabe Musker	5.0	0	58	0
Ted Marsh	3.0	0	12	0
Michael Sharpe	2.0	0	24	0
Seb Horner	5.0	0	32	0
David Bowen	3.0	0	36	0
Scott Landers	2.0	0	14	1
Matt Landers	0.4	0	6	0

 

Match Photos