Knockers Vs Holmesdale

Lose :: Played on Sunday 7th September 2014

Holmesdale
254-5

Knockers
238-10

Match Report

Knockers took to the field first as the autumnal sun beat down on an enticing wicket as our bleary-eyed hosts opted to rest their eyes under the shade of their pav. The groundsman's assurances that it was a lively strip were soon found out as a "Marsh wide" that was in fact an attempted bouncer barely troubled their opener's waistline. A new tactic was used to good effect by Knockers to remove their opener, the effort-ball, the full-toss that snuck to the base of off stump supplied an early impetus that was to be short-lived. After the economical spell of Saffa Si, their second wicket partnership exploited the lack of bounce in the pitch and Holmesdale raced along at a healthy rate. Knockers are never men to worry though, being the experience Sunday campaigners that we are, astute bowling changes and effective spells from Miller and Elliot meant we were in with a shout of restricting our big-hitting opponents. A top spell up to the death from Ahmad, nicknamed "throw", scalped three of the oppo; would have been four but for one of our Holmesdale recruit's suspect shelling of an absolute sitter coming in from cow corner. Ted Darry took the only maiden of the innings but after 40 overs, they had accumulated an imposing 254-5.

After the skipper's "Who wants to bat?" was met with a muted response in the changing room, the size of the task was delegated to two stalwarts, Darry and LSA to open up. After losing our first 4 wickets for little more than 20 confidence was at an all time low, Miller being the first in a string of batsmen to display our extraordinary ability to miss the straight one. Once again, with Ed Keevil's loyalties clearly lying with the home side, a caught behind of Thompson's thigh-pad added to our woes. With Seldon having injured himself at keeper in the second over of the day, Miller after chasing a ball down to third man, "I heard my thighs crash together", and LSA after running one too many, our veterans were clearly hinting that the younger Knockers would have to lead the chase. Marsh joined LSA at the crease and was immediately instructed, with the required rate nearing 8 an over, that they would be running no 2s or 3s. Soon after though, LSA departed which brought our foreign import to the crease and his early worries of being too hasty were clearly misplaced as he took apart their spinners with aplomb. Marsh used the position of the sun to great effect with a towering 4 that bounced over cow corner's head and the two set about rebuilding the innings. Simon, a self-confessed "nervous nineties" guy, passed his 50 but clearly felt disillusioned by the English terrain and became our second man to miss the straight one - a fine knock nonetheless.

Then followed every schoolboy's dream, batting with a former coach. Seldon limped to the crease but denied himself the partnership of a lifetime, getting bowled 1 run later. Ahmad then joined the fore and, after Marsh passed 50, some big hitting saw a potential match-winning partnership emerge but a regulation catch at slip dismissed the chucker. Elliot's "Don't expect too much, I got a golden duck last week" was way off the mark as he also settled into his innings with the Knockers' gusto that kept us well in it with a mere 50 off 5 required. He did, however, get a little over excited and called Marsh back for a second he clearly didn't want, the change of direction and ensuing dive resulting in a hamstring injury that could only hamper our chances. However, with Keevil eager to make up for his earlier errors, the running continued to flow and after Marsh became the third victim of that elusive straighter ball, Keevil and Elliot battled their way towards the total. Unfortunately, the fairytale run chase was not to be as Keevil fell to one heave too many and we were removed for 238. It was a fantastic day out and almost an incredible end to my summer's cricket.

Ed Marsh.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Edward Darry	caught	1	0	4
Lynden Spencer-Allen	caught	4	0	23
Rupert Harbig	caught	0	0	1
Guthrie Miller	lbw	0	0	0
James Thompson	caught	4	0	7
Ted Marsh	bowled	12	6	78
Simon Wormald	bowled	10	1	51
Stuart Seldon	bowled	0	0	1
Sayem Ahmad	caught	3	0	15
Harry Elliot	not out	1	0	20
Ed Keevil	caught	4	0	18

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Ted Marsh	8.0	0	50	1
Simon Wormald	5.0	0	14	0
Ed Keevil	3.0	0	26	0
Harry Elliot	7.0	0	38	0
Edward Darry	5.0	1	40	0
Guthrie Miller	5.0	0	37	1
Sayem Ahmad	7.0	0	42	3