Penn Street vs Knotty Green CC

Penn Street CC 222-7

(J. Knox, 61*, J. Tollerfield, 37; D Patel 3-35

Beat

Knotty Green CC 221-9

(P. Adhyaru, 65; C. Lovewell, 3-35, J. Barnett, 2-20)

In nye on perfect conditions Saturday, PSCC and Knotty Green went head-to-head in the now regular annual early season match up.

First assignment of the day for Alistair was the toss which he duly lost and PSCC were sent out to field.

After the 'inspiring' performance from the previous week, Jeremy was asked to open the bowling. He was unfortunate not to make the break through with a number of near misses and skewed drives which just evaded PSCC fielders.

At the other Master Jupp set to work, only to be struck down my a sniper from in the woods in his second over.

Enter Lovers, who initially struggled to find his rhythm in his first outing of the 2025 season. However by his fourth over Chris found his mojo, taking 2 in 2 balls to leave KGCC 59-2 from the opening 10 overs.

The next passage belonged to the visitors as Parth Adhyaru and D.Patel (one of 6 Patels to turn out for KGCC) took to Penn Street's slower bowlers, quickly moving the score along to 117-2 before Patel retired on reaching his 50.

KGCC continued to rattle along despite a couple of wickets falling to the expensive off spin of yours truly, and to the Wiley slow left arm of Hennell Snr. KGCC at 167-4 in the 23rd over.

It's often often said the Jonny Barnett can be called on to bring calm and control to proceedings, but that is precisely what he did after drinks, along with the return of Knoxy, as PSCC strangled the Knotty Green scoring as they slowed the flow with accurate line and length, as well as good pace at times from both bowlers.

Jonny's 2 wickets, and with 1 for Jeremy (finally!) continued to squeeze the run rate, with Joshy T also chipping in with accurate spin and good variation to nab a wicket in the dying overs along with a return at the death for Lovers to nick another one, leaving KGCC 221-9 at tea.

At this point its worth noting that I haven't got a picture of the scorebook to give you exact details of the pscc innings so here goes...

The OG Steve Smith and the messiah got the Penn Street reply up and running. Stevo valiantly lasted a couple of overs of decent new ball bowling before getting one with his name on.

Juppy and Josh got the scoreboard moving with some decent shots. Jupps survived a couple of LBW shouts before walking in front of a straight one.

Josh did the hokey cokey by getting himself in and then getting out in the 40s. Alistair tried to sweep one thay wasn't quite there which left Penn Street about 90-4.

Smartin and I consolidated a bit, getting us to ~140 before Sam got a big turner which pinned him inf front for 26.

This brought Jez to the crease who played himself in as usual by waiting 2 balls before smashing it over extra cover for 4. He continued in this fashion, smashing another few massive sixes into the pub garden, whilst I tried to give him the strike.

I knicked one to the keeper between bat and pad for 29 which bought Lovers to the crease with us still needing 50 from 9 overs. Rocco came next and played positively before miscuing one to cover.

Jez and Lovers then took the bowling apart, smashing us over the line with 2 overs to spare, Jeremy finishing on 61 and Chris on 23.

Great win, dodgy match report :).

PSCC: Steve Smith; Josh Tollerfield; Pete Jupp; Alistair Cossins (Captain), Sam Martin, James Sempill, Jeremy Knox, Rocco Jupp, Chris Lovewell, Simon Hennell, Johnny Barnett. Scorer: Cally Sutherland & Tilly Cossins