The Isaac Foot Cup: an annual one game wonder

 

Would we like to enter the Isaac Foot Cup again this year?  It is a long standing evening tournament run by Callington, orginally for local village teams.  No problem said our team secretary, I am sure we can spare one evening!  For despite a handicap system, we have not won a match since re-entering the tournament five years ago.

And so we were drawn against a South Petherwin team, formed from a mix of Division 2 (first team) and division 4 (second team) players.  Still we did have the benefit of a 40 run handicap, so could an upset be on the cards?

Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bat, the theory being have an idea of what we might be chasing.  South Petherwin put bat to ball from the start, but wickets tumbled regularly, and at one stage South Petherwin were for six.  But Gareth Clements and Angus Harley turned things round for South Petherwin, scoring 51 and 43 not out respectively, leaving the final total a daunting 189.

Gunnislake’s batting line-up was rather weaker than the bowling, but was strengthened by a rare appearance from James Boundy (son of groundsman Cliff and brother of former captain Sam). But James holed out on the boundary, a little rusty perhaps, but also feeling the weight on his shoulders?  Wickets fell regularly and Gunnislake’s reply never looked good enough.  The inning subsided to 71 all out after 15 overs, plus 40 handicap runs. 

South Petherwin thus ran out comfortable winners by 76 runs.  We wish them luck for the rest of the tournament, not least so we can hopefully say we were beaten by the eventual winners!  Meanwhile our Isaac Foot record remains intact……

Scorecard