Knockers Vs Hurst Green

Winning Draw :: Played on Sunday 29th June 2014

Knockers
264-2

Hurst Green
120-7

Match Report

For the fourth time in a row, Knockers batted first at Hurst Green and made over 200. However, for the first time since 2008, Hurst Green failed to chase it down and finished well short. Despite the best efforts of the Knockers' bowlers, Hurst Green held on to secure a draw with 3 wickets remaining.

On a green but firm deck, captain Lynden Spencer-Allen won the toss and elected to bat. Few Knockers players were keen to bat, with the exception of Paul Seldon who appeared to have padded up before the toss. Eventually Seldon and Watts opened and looked scratchy against the opening bowlers. However both eventually found their stride with Seldon in particular playing some meaty drives off the first-change bowlers. Their opening partnership of 138 laid the foundations for the Knockers innings. It was eventually ended by an ugly hoik to mid-off by Watts, putting spectators keen on seeing flowing strokeplay out of their misery. This brought Ed Darry to the crease, who timed the ball well in making a breezy 31 (or maybe 93, if you choose to believe the opposition scorebook). At the other end Seldon had passed 50 and began to open up, playing strokes all around the ground. When Darry fell looking to play aggressively, Seldon was joined by Lynden who played a typical Lynden innings, with a not out to boost the average for the end of season standings. Seldon reached his first ton of the year before playing a spectacular lofted drive over extra cover, taking Knockers to a formidable 264-2 at tea.

During the tea break Guy Howe provided his usual tales of debauchery, this time involving an unsuspecting victim who had believed he was a astronaut and that he had a photo of a space shuttle launch on his mobile phone.

After an excellent tea, Knockers took to the field with high hopes of bowling out Hurst Green and recording a first win at the ground in 6 years. Simon Rawson bowled tightly and accurately from one end, while from the other Dan Turner bowled one of those hostile spells of fast, short-pitched bowling that we all associate with Sunday cricket. After almost decapitating one opener, Dan bowled him with a beauty that came down the slope to hit off stump. Having dropped a catch off his father's bowling that may well have left him 'grounded', Sachin Rawson came on to bowl and took the pivotal wicket of the Hurst Green No.3, who could only slice a drive to LSA at gully. After another ripsnorter from Turner, Hurst Green were 3 down. Captain Lynden seized the initiative and brought Charles Doubleday-Potts on to bowl. Lavished with praise from his adoptive father, Guy, 'Double D' bowled with flight and guile and was rewarded with the fourth wicket. A period of attritional cricket followed, with the Hurst Green batsmen holding firm until only 15 overs remained with Knockers requiring a further 6 wickets to win the game. But the game was brought back to life by an inspired spell by Seb Horner, who took three quick wickets to strike fear into the opposition dressing room. However, despite the best efforts of Guy and Ted (who completed his cricketing rebirth as a middle order batsmen with some medium pace bowling) at the other end, Knockers could not prise out the Hurst Green skipper and fell just short, with the opposition closing on 120-7.

All in all, a promising but frustrating game for Knockers, who will hope for a bit more luck in the field on their next outing.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Paul Seldon	not out	0	0	113
Tom Watts	caught	0	0	70
Edward Darry	caught	0	0	31
Lynden Spencer-Allen	not out	0	0	26
Charles Doubleday-Potts	dnb	0	0	0
Seb Horner	dnb	0	0	0
Dan Turner	dnb	0	0	0
Sachin Rawson	dnb	0	0	0
Simon Rawson	dnb	0	0	0
Guy Howe	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Dan Turner	9.0	4	29	2
Simon Rawson	5.0	0	13	0
Sachin Rawson	9.0	1	35	1
Charles Doubleday-Potts	4.0	0	13	1
Seb Horner	7.0	1	19	3
Guy Howe	3.0	1	7	0
Edward Darry	2.0	1	2	0