Knockers
253-3
Ex-Blues
246-8
As we approached the compact ground of the Ex-Blues we all could anticipate runs so it was probably best to bat first, we did. Little did our courageous skipper realise, when he strolled out with Paul Styles to open the batting, that he was going to score one of his highest innings in years, so it began. It was Styles who made light of the going and short, boundaries and seemed to race onto 40, Miller not far behind, loose bowling made it easy for our batsmen to settle in and the score ticked on nicely. Guthrie overtook Styles and got to his 50 first, creaming a ball through the covers!! Then Styles moved onto 50 a feat performed many times! The Ex Blue’s bowlers never seem to settle into any sort of rhythm, and any balls were being dispatched with great aplomb. Unfortunately it was Styles who succumbed and was caught for 71 (a top innings). In came J Druce-Smith, Miller was nearing the ton, but to no avail the Ex-Blue’s spinner got him clean bowled he was out for 90. Martin Goff came to the crease and played himself into good form and hit 45no, Joe played well for his 15 until he was bowled. Knockers declared on 253-3.
After tea we knew we had to get wickets, Turner opened up coming down the hill and had his first victim bowled 2nd ball, he bowled some unplayable deliveries but to no joy. A Darry bowled well up the hill but had nothing to show for his 8 overs
(8-0-33-0). K Cowen came on and bowled a superb line and length and deserved more than his 2 for (11-2-30-2). Wickets were needed and so the skipper turned to his spinners S Trounce bowled some bamboozling deliveries and with a ball of good line and length took his first wicket, bowled, his second came after some frustration was shown by the opposition batsman as he went for a big hit was caught magnificently by Turner at mid-on. With the skipper inter-changing Trounce with Eaton (leg break bowler lent by opposition) we got closer and closer to our goal! Ex Blues could also smell the finish line and with 5 overs to go the skipper brought back Turner, they needed 30 odd from the last 5 with 3 wickets in hand, Turner dislodged their high run scorer, once again the win was on! Ex-Blues were edging closer and closer to the total. Another wicket fell and with 4 balls remaining Cowen had to dislodge the final bat. Unfortunately the stone walled defence of their last man prevailed and the game ended in a winning draw for Knockers, Good stuff all-round!!
 
Batsman |   How Out |   4s |   6s |   Runs |
---|---|---|---|---|
Paul Styles |   caught |   0 |   0 |   71 |
Guthrie Miller |   bowled |   0 |   0 |   90 |
Joe Druce-Smith |   bowled |   0 |   0 |   15 |
Martin Goff |   not out |   0 |   0 |   45 |
Geoff Smith |   not out |   0 |   0 |   0 |
Dan Turner |   dnb |   0 |   0 |   0 |
Ken Cowan |   dnb |   0 |   0 |   0 |
Steven Trounce |   dnb |   0 |   0 |   0 |
Andy Darry |   dnb |   0 |   0 |   0 |
Peter Eaton |   dnb |   0 |   0 |   0 |
  dnb |   0 |   0 |   0 |
 
Bowler |     Overs |     Mdns |     Runs |     Wkts |
---|---|---|---|---|
Dan Turner |     10.0 |     1 |     43 | 2 |
Andy Darry |     8.0 |     0 |     33 | 0 |
Ken Cowan |     11.0 |     2 |     30 | 2 |
Steven Trounce |     8.0 |     0 |     52 | 3 |
Peter Eaton |     4.0 |     0 |     35 | 1 |
Joe Druce-Smith |     4.0 |     0 |     20 | 0 |
Guthrie Miller |     1.0 |     0 |     6 | 0 |