Knockers Vs Smith/Cobb XI

Winning Draw :: Played on Sunday 12th June 2005

Knockers
238-9

Smith/Cobb XI
224-8

Match Report

This high scoring draw for two teams of very familiar faces produced some unlikely major contributions from among the Knockers' ranks. Guy Howe wheeled his way to the ground to support and score - his "wagon wheels" can be seen in the photo section.

As the Knockers came out to bat first, the sun briefly lit up the picturesque Seal St Lawrence ground. The rest of the afternoon was played in rather more gloomy conditions, but with a true wicket. Knockers' legends, Richard Botting (35) and Paul Styles (13) opened up matters, forgoing runs between the wickets to search for boundaries. Styles' determination took him to thirteen before he was caught.

Martin Goff (15) stepped into the fray and immediately upped the tempo, but his initial sweet timing abandoned him at a crucial moment when he was caught and bowled. Botting continued his stoical batting as Knockers' captain, Guthrie Miller (5) joined in with an excellent start to the season behind him. Unfortunately, after five runs he was bowled and replaced by Grant Sykes (17).

Botting then succumbed and Knockers looked in trouble. Scott Landers (37) ambled out with the Knockers run rate as low as their expectations of him scoring. However, Landers and Sykes went after the previously parsimonious Smith bowling and the team's 100 soon came and went. Sykes sent off a glorious six before being bowled and then Dan Turner (38) added to Landers' boundary ridden innings with some serious big hitting. Landers was then bowled and replaced by Grant Scandling (8), who left Turner to dominate before he was bowled. Ben Rumary (7) then replaced the South African to form Knockers' "big man" partnership. Turner was bowled first, having achieved his highest Knockers' score, with Rumary following soon after. Ken Cowan (5no) and Steve Trounce (0no) then saw out the innings until Miller declared on 238 for 9.

With a healthy total under their belts, the Knockers were keen to get on with bowling. Turner (5-1-11-1) and Rumary (6-0-13-2) opened with pace and line of high quality. The relief of the Smith's as Turner finished his spell was noticeable. Rumary ended his best session for Knockers this season with two wickets as they smashed the stumps three times between them.

Scandling (5-0-27-1) then took over from Turner was soon joined by Trounce (6-0-36-1) at the opposite end. They took a wicket a piece including Turner running in to take a superb catch off Trounce's bowling. Cowan (8-0-60-2) followed Scandling as Miller (4/0/35/1) took over for Trounce. Styles, manning the gloves, was quick witted with a stumping and sure with a looping catch to end the innings of Smith's main threat. Cowan continued to ask questions until the end as Botting (2-0-15-1) nearly helped him win the match after Miller took a "thinking time" catch from a skied effort. The Smith's finished on 224-8 as both teams finished feeling pleased with their day's efforts.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Paul Styles	caught	3	0	13
Richard Botting	bowled	8	0	35
Martin Goff	caught	1	1	15
Guthrie Miller	bowled	1	0	5
Grant Sykes	bowled	2	1	17
Scott Landers	bowled	7	0	37
Dan Turner	bowled	6	1	38
Grant Scandling	bowled	1	0	8
Ben Rumary	bowled	1	0	7
Ken Cowan	not out	0	0	5
Steven Trounce	not out	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Dan Turner	5.0	1	11	1
Ben Rumary	6.0	0	13	2
Grant Scandling	5.0	0	27	1
Steven Trounce	6.0	0	36	1
Ken Cowan	8.0	0	60	2
Guthrie Miller	4.0	0	35	1
Richard Botting	2.0	0	15	1

 

Match Photos