Gunnislake recorded their third win of the season with a 51 run victory against Tideford II. The team had a slightly strange air about it, including three players on loan from Milton Abbot: for once one of the captain’s cunning plans came off! (Read last week’s report if this does not make sense). So a special thanks to Angus Gourlay, Steve Payne and Mark Jenkins.
Tideford won the toss and asked Gunnislake to bat, and after some late switching in the order Barrie James and Stephen Lees strode out to face the Tideford attack. James soon perished, caught at mid-on by Tony Godwin, who is actually still a registered Gunnislake player. Geoff Husband, promoted up the order, quickly followed bowled, to give Freddie Bulmer his second wicket of the day. That brought the first guest, Steve Payne to the crease. At first he played and missed and edged a few (to be fair it was his first match of the season), but the intent was there. Tideford spurned three catches offered by Payne, but in the tenth over something clicked and eighteen runs came from Bulmer’s final over – all straight down the ground. Tideford turned to the experienced off-spin of Andrew Ellacott and in the sixteenth over the partnership was broken as Payne was bowled for a fine 57. Meanwhile the skipper appeared to be getting through his recent bad run of form, steadily accumulating runs at the other end. Mark Jenkins (loan number two) and Andy Metcalfe didn’t last long, and then Lees departed, bowled by Ellacott, but not before just squeaking his first fifty for Gunnislake. Brain Martin steadied the ship, and received some support from Angus Gourlay (loan number three), but wickets continued to fall and Gunnislake were all out for 178, having used only 34 of the allocated overs. Ellacott was the pick of the Tideford bowling, taking four wickets for 49 runs.
After tea Tideford set off on their run chase, with openers Everett and Pollard up against Gunnislake talisman Paul Lees and Angus Gourlay from Milton Abbot. Lees took an early wicket, bowling Everett cheaply, but a steady start saw runs accumulating at three an over and a tight match seemed in prospect. Gourlay then got in on the act with two wickets and Tideford looked in trouble. However, with young Freddie Bulmer coming to the crease, Gourlay was rested and replaced by Sylvan Pook at the Tamar End. Bulmer played well, but struggled to score and the required run rate started to climb. Indeed Pook caused so much trouble that he ended with figures of 3 for 13 off his ten overs, including a sharp catch at mid-wicket to remove Tony Godwin (sorry Tony – we know where you like to hit them). Scott Vowden replaced Paul Lees after drinks, and while still lacking a little in consistency, did remove top scorer Andrew Ellacott, LBW for 20. Another bowling change brought on Steve Payne, as Gunnislake helped bed in Milton Abbot’s new signing. Spin or fast captain? Spin please. No problem; six good overs for only twelve runs and one wicket – it was a good match for some traditional spin bowling. Brian Martin replaced Pook, and while Ian Trundley and stand in skipper Darren Shaw stopped the rot, the run rate was too high, and Tideford knew the game was up. The fortieth over came and went and the visitors ended up fifty one runs short. Some consolation was gained in stopping the home side obtain maximum bowling points, but Gunnislake were only too happy to record any sort of win.
Gunnislake’s win did owe much to the Milton Abbot contingent, but apart from this there were some pleasing aspects to a much improved performance. Four ducks show there remains further scope for improvement, but with the potential return of one or two of the younger players, could this be the start of a good run? Come down to Hawkmoor to watch next week’s exciting episode, as the team seek revenge in the return fixture against Saltash St Stephens!
Quotes of the Week
“Yorkshire all out 232, Hutton ill. I’m sorry, Hutton 111.” BBC news announcer John Snagge.
“That slow motion replay doesn’t show how fast the ball was travelling” Richie Benaud.