Knockers Vs Staplehurst

Win :: Played on Sunday 15th June 2025

Knockers
217-7

Staplehurst
214-7

Match Report

Knockers won by three runs against a sprightly Staplehurst to claim the inaugural Sharp Trophy. Akhers was immense with both bat and ball, Gabe rang up his maiden fifty, we looked utterly out of it at one stage and then a series of fine catches slowly turned the run rate in our favour allowing for some late order Staplehurst hitting to come up short. Luke’s rugby ringers felt like they’d been playing with us for years so what’s not to love about such a day.

Boreham, promising drama, won the toss and chose Scott to bat with him. The pair dealt with the testing inswingers of Knapp reasonably well. They faired less well with Housden who picked them off in successive overs, Oli chipping to extra cover, Scott either playing late to the previous ball or early to the one that got him – the shot had very little to do with the actual ball sent down. In between, Luke strolled out as if in an advert for expensive aftershave, the crowd was all whispers and swoons. Alas their viewing pleasure was cut short, and Knockers were 33/3. We needed other heroes to show. Show they did.

First to Hugh Price. Wagner wrote operas for less than those eighteen valuable runs. Each arc of the willow spoke of both the depth of Knockers’ batting and the depth of the man. Fine leg was busy with an impossible task to stop what could only be stopped by the inconvenience of bails dropping. A lonely aria accompanied this fallen warrior back to the pavilion.

Third act. Harsh lighting fell upon Akhil and Gabe centre-stage. Timpani rumbled storm-like as these two stricken men battled with ball and bandana. 77/4 burned like a cross in the background and yet they stood firm. The sirens of hoik called to them and yet they resisted. Akhers’ straight drives were the pick of his restoration project; Gabe was busy perfecting the sweep as they brought up the hundred partnership and fifty each along the way. It could have gone very wrong without this partnership, which at 135 runs is the second highest 5th wicket stand at the club. Gabe found deep mid-wicket in the 33rd over but his job was done. Tim Parkin and Jacob Hill livened up the wicket count while Akhers ended with a very healthy 69 not out.

And so to Staplehurst’s response. Knockers looked to the choral section as Luke and Tim made the ball sing irrespective of the strip they felt was artistically right for the occasion. Hugh then stopped a lusty blow at cover and had the nous to follow it up with a direct hit, ending a promising opening partnership. It brought their overseas on and Knockers were put through a difficult period of more melodrama than melody. Cole, the remaining opener, and Stander took the hosts from 13/1 to 149 in the 22nd over. It was bat over ball for a long time and Richards and Hill, like Stevens and Parkin before them, could not find a way. A lady of perfectly okay proportions was warming her vocal chords in anticipation.

It was time for Akhers. The wheezing death of the game for us had been slow. Forlorn men lamented, often in various surrounding and excessively thorny bushes. Akhil strode on stage and pulled back the poisonous briar revealing new life. Runs dried up. The opener was bowled in a wicket maiden. Jacob held well to pouch the dangerman, Stander for 98. The bails were clipped for a third. Luke Stevens had to wait an eternity for one to come down at long off. He held on. In fine Knockers’ tradition, Akhers was then taken off. 28 overs in and it was 166/5. Stevo came back and Jacob again grabbed one running in. Akhil came back in the penultimate all the while JJ bossing the other end. All of a sudden, their number seven smashed two through mid-wicket to take it to 208. What had become comfortable was no longer so and Boreham had bowled most out. Jacob stood up and took the last six (technically eight). Gabe also stood tall as the pair combined with the Staplehurst skipper picking Musker out at long-on. It took the task beyond Staplehurst and the curtain came down on a dramatic three-run win for Knockers.

And where of Jai throughout this? 30 overs umpiring. 35 overs turning down bowling opportunities. One pint afterwards to figure something out. A cup means less to Knockers than a glass shared. There are six paragraphs of some the worst contrived drivel I’ve written for a long time above when all I really want to say is that was time well spent with friends old and new. Enjoy the game lads, enjoy times like this with your mates more.

 

Batting

Batsman	How Out	4s	6s	Runs
Oli Boreham	caught	4	0	18
Scott Landers	bowled	1	0	7
Luke Stevens	caught	2	0	8
Hugh Price	bowled	3	0	18
Akhil Anand	not out	10	0	69
Gabe Musker	caught	8	0	68
Tim Parkin	bowled	0	0	4
Jacob Hill	run out	0	0	1
Matt Richards	dnb	0	0	0
James Johnstone	dnb	0	0	0
Jai Shah	dnb	0	0	0

 

Bowling

Bowler	Overs	Mdns	Runs	Wkts
Luke Stevens	7.0	0	41	1
Tim Parkin	4.0	0	31	0
Matt Richards	4.0	0	39	0
Jacob Hill	5.0	0	39	1
Akhil Anand	7.0	1	19	4
Hugh Price	4.0	0	20	0
James Johnstone	4.0	0	25	0

 

Match Photos