Gunnislake’s mid-season break came to an end with a visit from Saltash St Stephens. Frantic negotiations all week, brought about by the progress of England’s football team in the World Cup, saw a 35 over match starting at 11 in the morning. The timing was a bit early from some with Steve Woods and Adrian Cameron rolling up around the start time, but nevertheless both teams managed a full eleven. The opposition, second in the League are hot on the heels of Buckland Monachorum and did not want to miss out on the chance of 20 points!
Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bowl, a decision based on keen football watchers rather than ground conditions. Never is the art of captaincy more complex than in the lower reaches of club cricket: like herding cats as one of Barrie’s books says.
And so Saltash St Stephens took to the pitch with firm intent, a target of 200 in mind, and a further target of interval at 1pm. Simon Yeo and Lawrence Marsh opened, Lawrence fresh from scoring 137 last week at St Blazey. A steady start accelerated in the sixth over as Steve Woods was hit for 17; change of bowling and bring on the old fox, Sylvan Pook, who did quite well himself last week, taking 3 for 8 on loan to Menheniot. The run rate slowed back to a more respectable level, and hopes were raised as Yeo edged behind to be caught off George Jefferis’s bowling. Two overs later a loud shout for LBW went unanswered, but then Mike Stokes did fall LBW at the other end. Captain Shayn Rencher set about the bowling, but also gave hope with a few fresh air shots, and indeed was bowled with Andrew Morris’s first ball, as the batsman tried to clear the boundary trees. At this stage Gunnislake might have had hopes of restricting St Stephens to 150, but there remained the small matter of last week’s centurion. As the overs ran down he launched a ferocious attack on the Gunnislake spin bowling, with 105 runs coming off the last eight overs. Ouch! 129 not out, and the first part of the mission accomplished with maximum batting points, as St Stephens closed on 213 for 5, ten minutes behind schedule.
Gunnislake’s reply rested on the young (for us) talents of Morris (Exeter City supporter) and Emmerson (batsman of note). Despite a few play and misses a steady start was made, until Emmerson was bowled by one that kept low. Enter and exit Jefferis (Plymouth Argyle) for a cameo eight. Cue Pook (team unknown) and then John Gaul (Chelsea), followed by guests Chris and Sue Lomas. A fast procession as the psychology of the imminent England game kicked in; Gunnislake seemed to have a collective desire to knock off early and get down to the pub. Come on guys, it was still at least 30 minutes to kick-off! But something contagious was in the air as Adrian Cameron (keen rugby man) also departed for a duck. It was left to Brian Martin and Stephen Lees (Leicester City) to restore a small amount of respectability, but by then Adam Emmerson was both scoring and umpiring, as half the Gunnislake team had left for their appointment with the World Cup. Steve Woods, batting with a runner, hit a couple of fours, but it was all too late and in vain. Gunnislake had subsided two short of three figures, and Saltash St Stephens maintained their promotion push. Andy Dore, Lawrence March, Chris Marsh and Paul Pointer each took two wickets as the wickets were shared around.
The end of the match seemed a bit end of season, but the game was played in good spirit, and most retired to the Rifle Volunteer to watch the football and scoff sausage and chips in lieu of the traditional cricket tea. From there we watched England Lions roar to victory, in a game that will probably last longer in the memory. But if only Lawrence Marsh had been given out LBW in the eleventh over……..
Saltash St Stephens (20 points) beat Gunnislake (four) by 115 runs.