After last weekend’s mixed fortunes, Gunnislake played hosted to St Stephen, fielding a second eleven for the first time in many years. (We were thrashed by their “first” team last year!) Some well known faces in the St Stephen team turned out to be Pencarrow exiles, including young Sam Dowrick who had played on loan for Gunnislake two years earlier in one of our many selection crises. Despite competing interests of rugby (Exeter v Saracens) and football (European Champions’ League final) Gunnislake fielded a strong team, with two players sent out on loan. The toss was duly lost and Gunnislake were asked to bat.
Andrew Morris and Ian Mill led the attack and despite an uneven pitch the runs flowed well from the off. Put off by the variable bounce Mill missed a full ball and was bowled by Matthew Wallace. His replacement, Adam Emmerson was less circumspect and soon the ball was regularly finding the boundary, interspersed with some quick singles as the field gradually spread. Emmerson was eventually bowled trying a pull too many, to be replaced by his identical twin David. For St Stephen it was out of the frying pan into the fire. Morris passed his 50 and Emmerson 2 was not hanging around either. Ian Mill and Stephen Lees were kept busy retrieving balls from the long grass and in one case the Tamar River. Emmerson was, however, out just before his third successive half century, well caught and bowled by Matthew Wallace. At this point there was a change in batting order, as the runs racked up at around eight an over. David Warner (not the David Warner) came in at 6 and soon after Andrew Morris retired undefeated after reaching another classy century. One more wicket fell, and Gunnislake declared on 246 for four after 32 overs, leaving Warner undefeated on 13, his best score for Gunnislake. The declaration was partly due to the lure of the football, but also, on a hot day, a gallant St Stephen were wilting.
And so after the traditional cricket tea (spare home-made pasty anyone?) Gunnislake took to the field, with Spurs supporters particularly keen to get the game over (alas two nil to Liverpool after 87 minutes as I write this). Now this report is a little hampered by an incomplete scorebook, but St Stephen’s innings moved pretty fast. Brandon Hartley and Matthew Wallace seemed to mean business and a couple of fours seared to the boundary. Were Gunnislake being too complacent? But Adam Emmerson held a hard hit to have Wallace out caught in the covers and Gunnislake were on their way. Paul Lees and Sylvan Pook bowled their usual tight line and length, albeit with the odd stray wide thrown in. Add in a bobbly pitch and St Stephen could not cope. The first five batsmen (or women) departed without reaching double figures and a quick finish seemed on the cards. A brief mention here for Brandon Nelson, playing his first game of adult cricket, who managed a single with a firm hit through mid-wicket before being caught behind. But once again a possibly complacent Gunnislake were reminded they had not won as Josh Raven, coming in at six, announced his presence with a very correct and firm forward defensive shot, worthy of at least Division 5. From there he batted sensibly but with some aggression, amassing five fours in his score of 27, before belting it to Adam Emmerson at silly mid-off. Oops wrong fielder, and a wicket at last for George Jefferis, scant reward for some good accurate seam bowling. The spinners mopped up the tail (though truth be told the batting order was perhaps a little jumbled) and St Stephen fell three runs short of their second batting point. Gunnislake ran out convincing winners by 170 runs. Three wickets apiece for Sylvan Pook and Paul Lees, and three catches for Adam Emmerson were the Gunnislake highlights; I won’t mention the catch Adam dropped.
Now I hope and think a good time was had by all, for that is what cricket at this level should be about. Next week we continue our topsy turvy season with a trip to the league leaders St Minver, where we will do well to give a good account of ourselves with what looks like being a weakened team. Good luck to St Stephen for the rest of their debut season! And I see as I complete this report Spurs have lost: sorry David and indeed the Wallace family.