Another wet week contributed to the potential record May rainfall as Gunnislake’s ground fell victim to more cancellations. On this occasion, however, it was Yelverton Bohemians III who lost the fixture, as Gunnislake made the trip to Boconnoc. Good drainage and a windswept plateau, together with some hard work from the home team, saw the fixture go ahead, in what turned out to be the only game in the division to survive the weather.
Pre-match preparations left Gunnislake unsure what to expect, with Boconnoc making a strong start to the season, but having very large numbers of unsures in the results sheet. Turns out it was the Boconnoc wordsmith not knowing how to pull down former first teamers in to the scorecard on Playcricket! (Select all players next time guys. 😀)
Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bat, with four of the team still on their way and a relatively weak bowling line-up. Adam Emmerson had returned from exercises in Scotland, so Gunnislake’s preferred opening partnership was restored. A sweet square drive for four boded well, but then Emmerson missed a full and swinging ball from Middleton, to depart with no further addition. Kevin Beare promptly chopped on and Gunnislake were staring down the barrel at 6 for 2. Matt Middleton continued the pressure, bowling fast and accurately to pin down the Gunnislake batsmen. Able support came from Leo Hunter and Ryan Greenslade kept runs at a premium, and at 20 overs it was only 41 for 2. In truth it was a reflection of the good bowling rather than slow batting.
After a brief break Gunnislake at last got to grips with the bowling as Boconnoc rotated their resources and Mill and Martin got their eye in. The run rate increased from two an over to five an over, but Mill perished as the accelerator was pressed, caught by Oliver Frith off a skied shot. Enter Unsure, AKA Mark Everett, who kept the momentum up, with some breezy clips and chops. Two fours off Middleton’s last over slightly spoiled his parsimonious economy, and Gunnislake closed on 148 for 3 – not a bad effort from half way and much than expected after the fall of the second wicket.
Despite a slow outfield, 148 seemed below par, and so it proved. Jamie Wright gave brief hope, trapping Robert Hemmings LBW early on, but the runs rattled up at a steady four an over. Enter Gunnislake’s most capped player, Unsure (Everett to the rescue once again). His first ball in eighteen months pitched on a length, just outside off stump; Dave Smith made room to force on the off-side, but the ball jagged back off the seam, to clatter into off and middle stumps. What a start! But Ryan Greenslade was flying at the other end, being particularly punishing on wide balls through the offside. Middleton’s arrival at the crease injected further urgency as he pushed for quick singles and pulled hard to leg. Middleton, however, missed a straight one from Everett to depart for a quick 27. But there was no relief for Gunnislake, as John Sleep and Greenslade knocked off the remaining runs with no further mishaps.
And so Boconnoc ran out comfortable winners, technically by seven wickets, but in practice due to a much higher run rate. Gunnislake can take some credit from the match, against what is a much stronger Boconnoc team than for several years. Gunnislake’s unbeaten run over eight months (OK three matches) had come to an end.
Gunnislake 148 for 3 (Mill 43, Martin 42no, Everett 36no). Boconnoc II 149 for 3 Middleton 27, Greenslade 69no, Sleep 26no; Everett 2 for 27).
Boconnoc II (16 points) beat Gunnislake (4 points) by 7 wickets.