The sky glowered a pale grey as the Horizontals assembled
again at the most picturesque fixture of the season. Moths were
startled out of their slumber as members of the Horizontals sported
as much knitwear as humanly possible. Caps were donned more as a
protection against the wind than the sun, collars turned up and
successive layers of acrylic/wool mix gave some protection against
a bitter wind. The opposition, a bunch of teenaged county representatives
had won the toss and would bat. It was 10 degrees c.
Amit opened from the Church End and immediately had the opening
pair, probably the youngest we have ever played against, in some
trouble with his extra carry. One young man named Jerome was felled
by a full toss to the thigh having forgotten his thigh pad. A mistake,
I aver, that he will never make again. He was bowled by Amit soon
after for 2, leather chipping a bail in the process. Webster, coming
in from the Pavilion End, bowled no's 3 and 4 with some wicked swing
and seam. However, at the other end, a determined 13 year old by
the name of Axon drove him twice into the picnic area. After the
opening spell of 10 overs, Knebworth looked in a spot of bother
at 30-odd for 3.
Encouraged by pace and carry, skipper Willcock brought himself on
to continue the pace attack, catching and bowling Axon and then,
thanks to two superb catches from Rob McLeod and Amit, dismissing
Orlando and Simpson in single figures. Roger at the other end was
struggling against the eldest member of the oppo, an Aussie chap
named Turner who delighted in smacking him out of sight on several
occasions. His batting looked ominous as he fluked boundaries off
Scally and along with Elliot put on well over fifty and was rapidly
changing the shape of the game until David found the right ball
and neatly took his off bail. A few more were put on by the tail
until Craig dismissed their skipper and Amit wrapped things up in
the 35th. They were all out for 165 (albeit a man short), exactly
what the Horizontals had chased two weeks previously. Note must
also be made of Simon Bowett’s tidy debut behind the timbers
and some impressive sliding stops by Jimmy Carter.
After a tea which included curry sandwiches (More! More!) the Horizontals
felt confident of reaching their target. Richard and a returning
Mike Herlihy went out to face the openers, McGahan and Elliot 2.
Both were accurate and a few singles and twos were scored, and a
boundary from Mike but the new(!) ball was deviating and there were
a few close shaves. As Elliot 2 went off for running repairs, Burgess
smacked a 4 and a three from Simpson, but was bowled by a in-seamer
which also kept low next over for 10. This brought Amit to the crease
at 20-1. Unfortunately Mike soon followed caught behind off a lifter
for 13, 28-2, and then Jimmy Carter first ball trying to sweep the
tall paceman Elliot, 28-3. Whilst Rob stuck around, Amit took to
the opposition bowling and looked in fine form. Rob was soon bowled
by Hutchinson for 2, bringing Craig Murray to the crease with a
reputation to preserve having scored 97 in total in two previous
innings on the ground without being dismissed. He hit a couple of
enormously elevated boundaries but was dismissed at 80 for 11. Now
much rested on Amit. Simon kept one end up but Amit scored the majority
of the runs until Simon played an out of character expansive drive
and was bowled for 1. Then Amit was caught off Turner trying to
repeat a huge six for 48 and Matt Webster followed first ball, bowled
by Aussie Turner, who really could turn the ball, 93-8 and Chris
was in, immediately hitting Turner back over his head for six and
then stumped trying to repeat the shot the very next ball. 99-9.
Oh dear. There was enough time for a Scally cameo with the Mongoose,
ably supported by Roger which left David stumped for 11 and Roger
5*. During the Horizontals’ entire innings, Knebworth Park
only had 9 men fielding, such was their ability, it did not seem
to be the case. With only 5 players getting into double figures,
and four scoring 10, 11, 11 and 13, Walthamstow were found wanting.
Editor's note: They like us here; apparently we're
very good for bar profits...
