Knockers Vs Tunbridge Wells
Win :: Played on Sunday 26th June 2005Knockers
215-3
Tunbridge Wells
185-10
Match Report
Knockers CC returned to the scene of last year's demolition with more than a fare share of hangovers amongst them. The sadness that they couldn't play on the main ground again turned to joy as the main instigators of that heavy defeat were all playing on a different pitch to them. Instead the sun shone on a Knockers win over a youthful and talented Tunbridge Wells team played out on the upper pitch.
Opting to bat first, the threadbare Knockers' batting lineup was relying heavily on their in-form captain, Guthrie Miller (50) and the classy Paul Seldon (33). The opening partnership didn't disappoint. A dusty wicket settled down to see Miller thunder the ball to all areas of the ground while Seldon timed his strokes with ease to help bring up the hundred partnership. It wasn't until drinks come on that their concentration wained. A lost ball brought the refreshments on one ball early and when the last ball of the over was finally bowled, Miller got a shooter to send him back to the pavilion.
A Marshall (61no) replaced the skipper only to see Seldon bowled the next ball. S Wood (17) walked out to make his Knockers' debut with his new team in a potentially precarious position. Worries were soon allayed as Marshall dominated the bowling from the offset of his innings. Wood held up his end with some useful strokes until he was caught at mid wicket having helped set the Knockers up for a decent total. Landers (11no) saw out the last few overs with Marshall who mixed power with finesse to pass his second fifty of the season.
With healthy total of 215 on the board and a very strong bowling line up, the Knockers were in a confident mood when they took to the field. D Turner (5-0-22-2) started off the now familiar big man opening partnership with B Rumary (5-1-25-0). Turner was in scintillating form, his first wicket cut the batsmen in two and his second owed thanks to a wonderful low catch by Miller. Rumary struggled in his first over but found his way later in his spell to include a pressure inducing maiden over.
First change saw Wood (4-0-26-0) show off his potential with some pacey short length bowling. Only the lack of fly slip turned what should have been wickets into boundaries as he found the edge on numerous occasions. A Darry (5-0-30-1) tempted the batsmen with one pie too many as a hefty play and miss ended with the death-rattle of a wicket lost.
S Trounce (4-1-11-2) Took over from Wood to take a wicket with his first ball. His delivery turned the batsman inside out before hitting the leg stump. Sharp work from Marshall with the gloves saw another wicket fall through a stumping off A Darry's bowling before E Darry (3-0-18-0) took over from his father. Knockers' leading wicket taker, K Cowan (4-0-31-2) began the end for Tunbridge Wells' innings. After getting hit a few times as he took over from Trounce, he upped the pace and bowled his man. A few overs later another twisting delivery was scooped up high to mid-off where Wood's safe hands put the home team in trouble.
Miller (2-0-14-1) took some hits but more importantly a wicket in his brief spell, hitting middle and off. While Cowan worked his magic at one end, Seldon (1.1-0-3-2) wrapped matters up with clinical precision. His first victim fell LBW, his second looped a shot into the sure hands of E Darry to give Tunbridge Wells a total of 185-10. The future may well be for the home side, but for now the Knockers have wrapped up a third win in eight matches and the atmosphere in the team is currently a good mix of belief and determination. Long may it continue.
Batting
| Batsman | How Out | 4s | 6s | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Seldon | bowled | 6 | 0 | 33 |
| Guthrie Miller | bowled | 7 | 1 | 50 |
| Andrew Marshall | not out | 11 | 0 | 61 |
| Stephen Wood | caught | 1 | 1 | 17 |
| Scott Landers | not out | 2 | 0 | 11 |
| Dan Turner | dnb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ken Cowan | dnb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ben Rumary | dnb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Edward Darry | dnb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Steven Trounce | dnb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Andy Darry | dnb | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bowling
| Bowler | Overs | Mdns | Runs | Wkts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dan Turner | 5.0 | 0 | 22 | 2 |
| Ben Rumary | 5.0 | 1 | 25 | 0 |
| Stephen Wood | 4.0 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| Andy Darry | 5.0 | 0 | 30 | 2 |
| Steven Trounce | 4.0 | 1 | 11 | 1 |
| Edward Darry | 3.0 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| Ken Cowan | 4.0 | 0 | 31 | 2 |
| Guthrie Miller | 2.0 | 0 | 14 | 1 |
| Paul Seldon | 1.1 | 0 | 3 | 2 |