For those old enough to remember the International Cavaliers (and that’s half the Gunnislake team!), there were similarities to the team selected to face Ladock. Perhaps we should be renamed the Tamar Valley Cavaliers? A late withdrawal by George Jefferis (excuse score 9 out of ten – he had to go into work), contributed to the usual late scrabble for numbers. So the team were joined by Ian Mill (playing as Unsure until next season), David Battams (back from Salisbury for two weeks), Saf Wallace (Bude) and Mark Everett (signed on Saturday morning from Tideford). Also thrown into the mix was Tyler Bilkey (St Stephen) – travelling to Ladock on a mission to recuse his Dad’s bat, left in the Gunnislake changing rooms last week. Tyler managed to play for both sides for the second week running – fielding for both teams!
And so we set forth through heavy showers, but confident of a match as the grounds were all so dry. The Ladock captain confirmed the game was on, though he was in barley. Except he was not harvesting this year’s crop, but on holiday in Bali! The weekend international theme continued….
Ladock won the toss and inserted Gunnislake. Ian Mills and Brian Martin opened, and after 13 off the first over, Martin lost his off-stump to a first ball yorker. Enter Adam Emmerson, given time off by the marines (brother David meanwhile keeping the Russians at bay on the submarines). A steady stand ensued, with one particularly fine and fearsome cut for four by Adam. Progress was serene and your scribe even began to dream of 200 and maximum batting points. 77 for 1 after 20 overs, but six runs later Mills perished on 43. Mark Everett joined Emmerson, and normal service was resumed. 116 for 2 after 30 overs. But the tempo soon wound up; Emmerson crashed 20 in an over; Everett perfected the art of tip and run, supplemented with some classy steers though the off side. As the innings moved towards its end, Emmerson took more chances, finally falling to a skied catch to the keeper. An excellent 83 and out taking one for the team: well played sir! David Battams then picked up the cudgels, blasting three fours before tamely offering a gentle catch, gratefully swallowed by Adrian Ballentyne. 200 looked on the cards, but alas in the thirty eighth over rain came pouring down. The over was finished, but an agonising four runs short tea was taken, and the innings declared over. Against some good and consistently tidy bowling from Ladock, this was probably our best batting performance of the season.
The rain soon cleared and the hardy teams returned to the fray, by now watched by Ladock 1st team, who had travelled up to Menheniot, had tea and returned home, with ne’er a ball bowled. The seconds were, however, made of sterner stuff, Mike Waller (old colleague from Cornwall over 50s) being joined by Craig Butler (only three centuries this season). Hmm, the visitors had their work cut out. The breakthrough came at 52, when Butler fell to a sharp catch behind the stumps. Waller immediately gloved a catch to the grateful keeper and at 20 overs Ladock were 72 for 2. Andrew Wakeley, (normally a Ladock first teamer) and John Wakeley were next to fall, quickly followed by Jonathan Kelly. But the scores were following a very similar path. 137 for 3 after thirty overs: sixty needed from nine. Adrian Ballentyne (mainstay of Ladock’s victory at Gunnislake) took up the challenge. And he found great support from veteran Guy Atkinson (remember neither Geoff nor Barrie were playing). Only three runs off the 33rd over (well bowled Sylvan) and the run rate climbed. But 15 off the 35th; Ballentyne passed his fifty, and the required run rate fell. The game was nearly up. Or was it? The final over yielded three dot balls; the crowd drew breath, but the fourth ball squirted through Martin’s grasp, catching David Warner by surprise, who could only parry it behind. Ladock set off for one, turned for two and the match was won and lost with only two balls to go.
Gunnislake gathered six points for their troubles, exactly the same as Ladock 1st got for scoffing tea at Menheniot, while Ladock IIs took the spoils with seventeen. Another day of what ifs. With young legs in the field from Emmerson, Battams and Bilkie, Gunnislake’s fielding was improved, but a number of fours were given way, and today that was the difference between the two teams. Sorry there is little mention of the bowlers: but have a look at the scorecard if I have missed you out! Thanks to Saff, Mark and Tyler for making the numbers up: we do appreciate it.
Ladock (17 points) beat Gunnislake (five) by five wickets.