The bank holiday Monday loomed large and in common with many teams across the county, Gunnislake were facing a selection crisis. The selection committee gave way to the who is available roll call. Octagenarians Barrie James and Geoff Husband were drafted into the team, Stephen Parsons, previously on standby, was pressed into service and then Sylvan Pook dropped out, his wife seriously ill. Some frantic phone calls led to rescue by Saltash St Stephens and Paul Pointer offering to play on loan for his first game of the season. An offer gratefully accepted; so Gunnislake scrambled a team together on a day when six other clubs conceded matches.
Heading west the team travelled to Liskeard, who have rejoined the League after temporarily folding, but with a strong team including four players with regular experience at Division 2 level. It was always going to be a tough call for the visitors, made worse by Liskeard requesting Paul Pointer not be allowed to bowl “in the spirit of the game”.
Liskeard won the toss and, despite what looked like a good track, asked Gunnislake to bat, probably mindful of forecast showers. Barrie James and Ian Mill strode out to face the challenge, and Paul Pointer (determined to be involved) took one of the umpire’s coats. Robert Cowling and Sam Rogers opened the bowling, with Rogers making an early breakthrough, trapping James leg before wicket. Paul Pointer, keen as ever, was the umpire raising his finger. Despite this early wicket the run rate ticked along quite nicely, but wickets were never far away. Mill missed a straight one and Gunnislake were 23 for 2. Andrew Morris then edged an attempted sweep to be caught behind, 47 for 3. Adam Emmerson hit out strongly as captain Stephen Lees admired from the other end, but Emmerson became the first victim of Andrew Cobb, bowled for 26. Lees was joined by Iain Barker, promoted up the order as Stephen Parson was left in charge of the scorebook. Mindful of a longish tail and faced with accurate seam bowling Gunnislake dug in but Barker fell to Rogers in the thirty fifth over, with the score on 118. The next over Lees was sharply taken in the slips and at 120 for 6 things were looking good for Liskeard. Dean Organ came and went without troubling the scorers, bringing temporary loan star Pointer to the crease. A duck? I can do better than that thought Paul: a golden duck, proving his offer to bat at number 11 was not false modesty. Stephen Parsons and David Gray saw out the remaining overs, Gray being run out on the final ball as Parsons tried a risky second. Andrew Cobb was the pick of the bowlers with 4 wickets for 12 runs, but against a bowling attack with three regular Division 2 players that was actually a creditable batting performance by the Gunnislake team.
A splendid tea followed, especially the ham and egg pie, Geoff Husband taking the opportunity to be first in the queue. Liskeard’s reply began briskly and ended quickly. With rain in the air there was no loitering and Liskeard opened with star batsman Andrew Cobb and Matthew Hyslop in support. And indeed it was all over in 12 overs of carnage, as the ball disappeared to all corners of the ground. Paul Pointer was particularly busy on the leg side boundary, but Liskeard won at a canter. Cobb remained undefeated on 71, as Liskeard reached their target for the loss of only one wicket. At the time of writing Cobb has scored 458 runs in three innings, undefeated in them all.
Now if there is a slight bit of cynicism in this report perhaps I should apologise. It is good to see Liskeard back in the League, but in Division 6 the game relies on loans to keep matches on. This year we have loaned other teams players on seven occasions; last year we only survived as a club by borrowing a whole series of players. In the spirit of the game I think it is important that we allow players who have volunteered to help out to play a full part in the match. Thanks Paul, we did appreciate your presence!