Scorecard

Knebworth Park v Roving Reporters Cricket Club Roving Reporters on Thu 26 Jul 2012 at 11.30am
Roving Reporters Cricket Club Lost

Match report Roving Reporters CC v Knebworth CC

Catches Win You Matches – Fact

On a clear bright summers day and without a cloud in the sky RR’s travelled to Knebworth Park CC for their annual midweek fixture. Our last visit to Knebworth saw RR’s torn apart by an Aussie overseas who scored a record 170 out of 290 off 40 overs, with RR’s scoring only a measly 163 in reply. Revenge was required, as RR’s brought in the overseas of there own Paul Lewis from West Indies.

Skipper Rocky won a contrived toss and with no hesitation elected to bat on what looked to be a hard and flat wicket. As the clocked ticked 11:30 the umpires called play and the game was underway. Both openers looked very comfortable at the crease during the opening overs until Paul Smith who looked to be batting with confidence guided a wide delivery into the keepers gloves with the score on 16. This brought overseas player Paul Lewis to the crease for his first game of the season. Lewis and JJ began to rotate the strike well until JJ decided to copy Scooby and snick off behind. RR’s were now in trouble with the score on 27 for 2 off 7 overs on a flat track.

With a rebuilding process needed skipper Rocky and Lewis dug in and started to see of the new ball. As the bowlers began to tire in the scorching sun Rocky and Lewis rotated the strike well running sharp singles. At drinks RR’s were now 59 for 2 and with another hour to lunch had an important session ahead of them. Concentration was becoming more difficult in the heat for the fielding side as Lewis, who would have felt at home in these conditions and Rocky began to find scoring easier as the bowlers began to fatigue. This meant a change to bowling attack at both ends as KPCC looked to buy a wicket before lunch. With the smell of the BBQ lingering in the air and Rocky’s belly rumbling, Lewis and Rocky safely negotiated this period and finished 107 for 2 in a strong position to push on after lunch.

With a few cold showers to cool down and an excellent BBQ for lunch both sides were in no rush to continue and could have happily called the game a draw and spent the rest of the afternoon basking in the sun and drinking pimms.

KPCC were to get a break through quickly after lunch as Rock was caught sweeping for 42 with the score on 129 sharing a 102 partnership with Lewis. This brought the inform Chris Jones to the wicket who made sure that Lewis passed his 50. With the score on 166 CJ was plumb in front for 16 leaving the umpire no choice to raise his finger. CJ was reluctant to leave and stood there in disbelief claiming that he middle it into his pad. An explosive started from Simmo pushed the score on and Lewis was now in the 90s. Simmo attempted one big shot to many and was caught for a quick fire 24.

As the supports stood to they’re feet as Lewis beard down on another 100. JJ turned and said ‘don’t worry Lewis never gets out in the 90’s’. A juicy leg side half volley was served up and YES Lewis somehow managed to hit straight down square legs throat. Out on 97 off 127 balls – avoiding a hundred and a jug, this was a fine innings that had put RR’s in a strong position at 224 for 6.
This soon became 224 for 7 as Jake Pike hacked across a straight ball and was clean bowled. The runs now began to dry up and Keith Pike was caught attempting to hit over the top for 3.

All eyes were now on skipper Rock as how long would he go on for. With the score on 236 for 8 a halt was called to the innings leaving KPCC a tricky 35 minutes to bat before tea.

RR’s started with the old ball with spin kings Craig Simmons and Chris Jones the spear head off the attack. Both bowled with increase accuracy as the KPCC started slowly. As RR’s increased the pressure and attacked with fielders around the bat both openers were solid in their defense. So 13 overs in 40 minutes and the score 21 for 0 at tea the games was nicely poised.

After tea brought an immediate change in the bowling attack with Terry Miles into the attack. In his second over he drew opening batsman Courtney into a drive which he hit straight to Jake at mid off who shelled the first of seven team catches. This was not to prove to costly as in the third over he managed to get a break through trapping Courtney LBW for 31. In came Mr. English and with some brutal stroke play started to take the game away from RR’s as he sent 3 massive sixes straight back over Terry’s head. An immediate change was needed and the introducing of Dave Simmons and Dave Rock who both started to bowl a tight line started to frustrate the pair with Thomas offering a chance to Craig at mid off would unfortunately declined the offer.

Simmo removed danger man English for 38 cleaning bowling him and in the space of 4 balls Thomas was dropped again at square leg how costly would these drops prove to be? A great run out opportunity was offered just before 20 overs as Thomas and Curtis started to play hit and run with new bat Thomas dropping the ball straight to the feet of star bat Paul Lewis. Lewis made a great run for the ball beating two defenders and in Didier Drogber fashion blasted the ball in the top corner for 4 over kicks. This was one of the many calamities in the field throughout the day as the wheels started to come off. At drinks KPCC were two down needing another 115 to win. Straight after Rock removed Curtis due to a sharp catch by Lewis at square leg a few balls later Lewis lost his concentration by being sucked into conversation with the square leg umpire after it was reported that the umpire said that ‘Simmo wore tighter tops that him’ to his displeasure. During this lap of concentration the easiest chance of the day was presented and in true David James style the opportunity was flapped at.

The introducing of Paul Smith was another throw of the dice as RR’s needed wickets to win the game and also to raise the fielding standards in the process. Thomas having just past 50 off about 290 balls drove Scooby in the air and a back peddling out stretched Rock took a spectacular one handed catch. R. Jones (not Roger thank goodness) came and went, as he was plumb LBW off Smith for 4. The game was now opened up with KPCC 164 for 5 and RR’s in a position to push on to victory. However KPCC skipper Inman and number 5 Klimek had other ideas had other ideas as they started to work young spin bowler, no pace bowler, no spin bowler, no pace bowler – make your mind up Jake, Sorry spin bowler Jake Pike around until Kilmek attempted to hit over the top of Dave Simmons at mid on. Dave seemed to have missed judged the ball at first and this seemed another chance to go begging until an out stretch hand clung onto the ball which surely will be the best of his 101 catches ever taken. Game on. Pike keep plugging away and was rewarded with another wicket as he bowled young pace bowler Orchard for 14. As the standards of fielding began to improve there was still time for some more stupid fielding as there was another set of needless 4 over throws.

As the games started to come to a dramatic climax with KPCC needing 28 off 4 overs with 3 wickets left Rocky turned back to senior citizen Simmons who bowled extremely well during his first spell was quickly dispatched into Knebworth House by Folwell swing the game KPCC way. The penultimate over saw Simmons hit for 14 with RR’s now needing a miracle to win the game in the last over. However this was not the case and KPCC knocking off the target of 235 7 wickets down with 4 balls to spare. This hand been a great game of cricket and credit must go to both captains for giving everybody the opportunity to participation on a wonderful day of cricket. In reflection an under performance in the field was RR’s down fall today as chances must be taken to win games.

Roving Reporters Cricket Club Roving Reporters Batting
Player Name RunsMB4s6sSRCtStRo
extras
TOTAL :
6nb 1w 13b 4lb 
for 8 wickets
24
235		        
Jonathan Jenkins Caught  10 20 2 50.0
Paul Smith Caught  10 14 1 71.43
Paul Lewis Caught  97 127 9 76.38 1
David Rock Caught  42 86 6 48.84 1
Chris Jones Lbw  16 25 1 64.00
David Simmons Caught  24 27 2 88.89 1
Jake Pike Bowled  1 9 11.11
Craig Simmons Not Out  3 6 50.0
Keith Pike Caught  3 6 50.0
Terry Miles Not Out  4 17 23.53
Martin Dyer  

Knebworth Park Bowling

Player nameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
No records to display.

Knebworth Park Batting
Player name RMB4s6sSR
extras
TOTAL :
2w 4b 4lb 
for 7 wickets
10
239 (50.2 overs)		     
Thomas ct Rock 50
Courtney Lbw  31
English Bowled  46
Curtis ct Lewis 6
Klimek ct D. Simmons 25
Jones Lbw  4
Inman Not Out  36
Orchard Bowled  14
Folwell Not Out  17
Skeggs  
Johnson  

Roving Reporters Cricket Club Roving Reporters Bowling

Player NameOversMaidensRunsWicketsAverageEconomy
Craig Simmons14.044800.003.43
Chris Jones6.011800.003.00
Paul Smith6.0033216.505.50
Terry Miles8.0154154.006.75
David Simmons7.2128128.003.82
David Rock5.0019119.003.80
Jake Pike5.0031215.506.20