Some late selection changes sent a makeshift Gunnislake team down to Wadebridge for the penultimate game of the season. Andrew Morris was available for a rare guest appearance and Adam Emmerson looked keen to continue his fine batting form. Set against that was only three bowlers, ten players and a team with an average age of 55.8. And yes I have worked that one out!
The game was on Wadebridge’s main ground, as their second eleven had a bye, so a few spectators were gathered as Gunnislake lost the toss. It was perhaps an omen for a hard afternoon ahead.
Wadebridge opened with Paul Roberts and Daniel Jones, while Gunnislake gave the new ball to George Jefferis (28) and Sylvan Pook (70). Wadebridge set off at a fair rate and had reached 80 in the seventeenth over before the first wicket fell, Jones bowled by Andrew Morris (another 28 year old youngster). Sylvan Pook quickly followed with his own bowled, but that brought captain Steve Meneer to the wicket. A steady run rate of five an over climbed rapidly, the field spread far and wide, and Gunnislake took a hammering. With Pook bowled out some rotation at the Town End led to short spells for Steve Norris (debuting at 44), Adam Emmerson (28 – 1990 was a fine vintage!) and John Gaul (62). Emmerson eventually took a good caught and bowled to remove Meneer, but the damage was done and Wadebridge were already well past maximum batting points. It was the last success for Gunnislake, as youngster Mathew Gordon stayed with Roberts to the end. Wadebridge closed on a mammoth 284 for 3, with Roberts scoring his first century at the home ground. Gunnislake were left to rue a dropped catch by Stephen Lees (59) and one of those famous plumb LBWs that never was.
The tea was good, the Gunnislake batting less so. Faced with such a total the captain sent in his two star batsmen, Morris and Emmerson. But Emmerson soon perished to an LBW for a mere single and Barrie James (85) soon followed. Morris and Lees dug in and the score gradually recovered. Indeed Morris took 12 off Meneer’s second over, forcing a change from spin to seam (blimey, a bit of a Garfield Sobers?). Seam did the trick; Morris edged behind, Pook missed his first ball and Gunnislake were reeling at 86 for 4. Jefferis fended off the hat-trick, but failed to reach double figures. Enter Geoff Husband (83) but not for long, as he was run out by the captain, or was that excellent fielding by the Wadebridge man on the square leg boundary? Would the tail wag? No! Gaul matched his neighbour with a duck, and Peter Davis (71) was out to another LBW, leaving Norris stranded on 2. From 74 for 2 to 99 all out, and the thumping was complete. Meneer took five wickets, but I must make special mention of Mathew Gordon (14 years old), who followed up his batting with some very promising swing bowling.
One match remains to restore some team pride, as we travel to St Blazey for the final game of the season. Meanwhile Wadebridge do battle with St Blazey for third place in the League. Can we do them a favour? It looks as if we will be fielding a strong side, but I have said that before!
Wadebridge (20 points) beat Gunnislake (three) by 175 runs.