Knockers Vs Ide Hill

Win :: Played on Sunday 8th August 2004

Knockers
227-6

Ide Hill
125-10

Match Report

Knockers recorded a good win in this match against Ide Hill, which proved to be their third win in four games and fully made up for the defeat at the same location last year. Visiting captain Guthrie Miller was relieved to win the toss on a hot day and elected to bat. Paul Styles and Stuart Seldon got the team off to a decent start on what could be described as a variable wicket. This was then followed up by birthday boy (35) Guthrie Miller who showed intent from the off and scored a quick 50. Paul Seldon used a more easy paced approach and after a slow start held the innings together with his 65, hitting four sixes in the process. Joe Druce-Smith showed promise again with his 18 while Lynden Spencer-Allen was undone by the vagaries of the pitch in his 14. John Sayers was once again the pick of the Ide Hill bowling.

Fortunately after tea the heat had gone in the day, allowing a full effort at victory. Despite Darry's concerns relating to the state of the wicket, Lynden Spencer-Allen opened the bowling with Paul Seldon and both were quickly in the wickets. Slow bowling was also useful on this wicket and Andy Darry struck three times in his spell as first change. Scott Landers, in his first bowling spell for the club, was unlucky not to claim his first wicket after a loud LBW shout was turned down. With wickets falling regularly a variety of bowlers were used and wickets were also claimed by Paul Styles, Miller bowling off-spin and Joe Druce-Smith before Spencer-Allen claimed the final wicket to secure the win.

All in all now things are looking better for the club after the poor start to the season. The winning run has helped build confidence and they will hope to build on this in upcoming games against Four Elms, Ightham and Holmesdale.

An alternative version:

Within the welcoming short boundaries of Ide Hill lurked a wicket as unpredictable as the English summer that was also to play a part. Guthrie Miller, as returning captain, received a welcome birthday present in winning the toss on a stiflingly hot day. Freed of the usual fielding duties, Knockers openers, Paul Styles and Stuart Seldon sauntered onto the pitch in anticipation of the runs to come. It was then that they were confronted by two tidy bowlers aided by a track that could be trusted about as much as your average member of parliament. Their scores do little to justify the time they spent in difficult circumstances - nearly seeing off Ide Hill's best bowlers. Stuart fell to one that should have pitched up, but stayed low, sending him back for 9.

A promotion to number three, Guthrie Miller refused to let the circumstances curb his natural game and he rattled up 53 quickly despite the loss of an unsettled Paul Styles for 12. Paul Seldon stepped into the fray and treated everything with respect until his serene style shone through. Miller was replaced by Joe Druce-Smith and the run rate slowed as he and Paul gauged the wicket. In the end he provided an excellent foil with 18 hard fought runs to Paul's boundary ridden 65.

Johnathan Boreham was joined by a positive Lynden Spencer-Allen, whose 14 in a now healthy total was cut short by another shortish delivery that shot through low. Then the entertainment began! Johnie Bramwell and Boreham notched two a piece along with some of the most incident filled bye-running you're likely to see. The keenest backing up saw the non-striker almost lapping the disorientated striker on more than one occasion. This period, much to the home side's disgust, saw the previously relentless sun obscured by cloud cover that was to remain throughout the Knocker's turn in the field.

A tasty tea fueled a buoyant Knockers bowling attack. Lynden Spencer-Allen and Paul Seldon nailed the openers down with tempting and often unplayable deliveries. After removing the the top order economically with two wickets to Spencer-Allen and one to Seldon, first change saw Andy Darry and Ken Cowan take over. The former teasing three wickets in two spells while the latter pinned down the other end. Scott Landers made his bowling debut with an economical, if erratic spell, while Guthire Miller's new style of off spin took time to find rhythm before claiming a wicket.

Joe-Druce Smith claimed another scalp following on from the previous week as Spencer-Allen returned when the match was edging towards a draw. Paul Styles' single over produced another wicket before Spencer-Allen wrapped things up, making him the current leading wicket-taker. Winning is hopefully becoming a habit for this improving Knockers team.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Paul Styles	caught	2	0	12
Stuart Seldon	bowled	2	0	9
Guthrie Miller	bowled	12	0	53
Paul Seldon	bowled	8	5	65
Joe Druce-Smith	caught	3	0	18
Lynden Spencer-Allen	lbw	4	0	14
Johnathan Boreham	not out	0	0	2
Johnie Bramwell	not out	0	0	2
Scott Landers	dnb	0	0	0
Ken Cowan	dnb	0	0	0
Andy Darry	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Lynden Spencer-Allen	7.0	3	17	3
Paul Seldon	5.0	1	9	1
Andy Darry	6.0	3	21	3
Ken Cowan	5.0	2	17	0
Scott Landers	4.0	0	12	0
Guthrie Miller	2.0	0	18	1
Joe Druce-Smith	3.0	1	11	1
Paul Styles	1.0	0	6	1

 

Match Photos