Rain Fails to Save The Day

Gunnislake headed west for their first fixture of the bank holiday weekend with heavy thundery showers forecast.  Would we get a full game in?  Would be back in time for the Champions League football?  These and other matters of moment occupied the thoughts as Gunnislake once again won the toss.  Despite a hard and inviting track, Gunnislake chose to bowl, with a cunning plan to benefit from any stoppages for rain.

St Stephens sent in Oliver Martin and evergreen Stan Job, while Gunnislake opened with George Jefferis and new signing Dave Morris, who happened to be down for the weekend with Adrian Cameron.  A maiden over from Jefferis was a promising start, but a side twinge from the star bowler grew worse, leading to a forced change of bowling.  St Stephens made their intent clear: score quickly and go for a win before the rain came.  The opening partnership was ended when Morris took an excellent caught and bowled, and Les Brown departed soon after, bowled by Unsure AKA Sam Dowrick, borrowed from Pencarrow II.  Good wicket Sam, to go with a catch he took for us nearly two years ago when also filling in as a loan player against his own team.

At drinks St Stephens were going smoothly at 122 for 2.  Cue various signals from the boundary and suddenly they found a different gear.  Even steady Stan Job managed 12 in an over as the ball flew far and wide and in a twinkling Richard Budge had rattled up a fifty.  Job fell in the run chase, but captain Kyle Prophet continued the mayhem, before declaring after 33 overs on 230 for 4.  A much chastened Gunnislake chose to take an early tea (and a very good one too).

The clouds continued to thicken and the competition seemed to be between the weather and St Stephens.  Adam Emmerson had other ideas though, as he set about the bowling with some gusto and when Barrie James was out for two, the score had already reached 42.  But a lively innings was ended by another excellent caught and bowled.  Wickets began to fall regularly as skipper Stephen Lees watched helplessly from the other end.  But then the drizzle started: was a saviour at hand?  Thunder rumbled, a couple of flashes of lightening and then the heavens opened!  Dash for cover, shall we call it off?  But the rain stopped and after a mid-wicket conference the match resumed. The pitch was a bit soggy but played true.  For a while Sylvan Pook and Lees blocked and fought, with the odd boundary along the way.  A second batting point came, but the skies cleared: salvation was not going to come from the weather.  Then Lees fell LBW to Oliver Martin, missing a sweep shot, bringing Geoff Husband to the crease.  Was there a last throw of the dice as the master blocker set to work?    Unfortunately not, as first Pook was caught and then Husband, leaving dubutant Dave Morris stranded on 1 not out.  Jefferis did not bat as he strives to regain fitness for next week’s match at Werrington.

Perhaps we should have claimed a draw when the heavens opened, but hey we play the game for fun, and we made St Stephens a happy team.  If we can not win the League, we will have a good go for the Fair Play Trophy.  Spectators at Hawkmoor are welcome as we host Ladock for the bank holiday Monday fixture.

St Stephens 230 for 4 declared (20 points) beat Gunnislake 109 for 8 (four points) by 121 runs.

Scorecard