It was not quite record temperatures this week, but plenty of other records tumbled in the match at St Stephen. Adam Emmerson hit a career high 192 not out, the opening stand was 206, Gunnislake scored 359 for 5 and ended up with a winning margin of 319 runs. It was an overwhelming win for Gunnislake, but a hard day in the field for some of the St Stephen youngsters. Don’t give up lads (or Lauren): your best years are ahead!
Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bat on a hard and dry wicket. With a fast outfield it was felt that a minimum 200 was needed, but 250 was perhaps a realistic target. Adam Emmerson and Stephen Lees opened, and the score rattled nicely along at seven an over, with the first drinks break coming after ten overs. Spreading the work load St Stephen rotated their bowlers, but to limited effect. The score continued to mount and the run rate crept up steadily. Lees pulled merrily away, while Emmerson outscored him with a mix of pulls and drives. With the field spread wide the pair also helped themselves to plenty of singles, and turned ones into twos in a good display of running between the wickets.
Emmerson was first to his 50, with Lees not too far behind. Meanwhile Emmerson was racing towards his century, and at the half way point Gunnislake were close to 200. Lees eventually fell for 72, getting a very faint nick behind. With opening bowlers back for a second spell the run rate dropped for a while, with Emmerson spending some time almost becalmed in the 120s. However, Andrew Dickerson began to find his range and Emmerson got a second wind. St Stephen wilted in the heat, but in the mad dash for runs Gunnislake were also giving chances. When Dickerson was out Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah and Brian Martin quickly followed. It was left to captain Mark Everett to keep Emmerson company for the remainder of the match. With one over to go Emmerson was on 187: was a double century even possible? Five runs off the first two balls brought Everett on strike. He perished nobly, caught and bowled in a quest for a single, but the batsmen crossed, so in an unconventional way the job was done. Three balls, eight runs or two fours needed. Emmerson swung hard, but miscued. Three dot balls and the chance was gone. But nevertheless it was a privilege to witness such an innings and by far a career high for Adam.
St Stephen began their reply rather tamely with Stan Job gloving a catch to first slip. Captain for the day, Olly Martin, whacked three fours before skying Dawe to mid-on. It was almost St Stephen’s last aggressive intent. Ian Dawe roared in from the lower end, while Thirupuvanarajah got lift from the village end. The batsmen never looked comfortable and for one the Gunnislake catching was in fine form. Three were taken in the slips, and six in total. Three bowled and an LBW and it was all over. St Stephen had slumped to 40 all out, with six ducks, and five wickets for Dawe. Thirupuvanarajah, Lee Roberts and Sylvan Pook all chipped in, to make it a comprehensive team performance.
Gunnislake are now well clear in second place with three matches to go. Despite St Austell losing today they remain almost certain league winners, but Gunnislake must now be clear favourites for the runners-up spot. Well done to St Stephen for keeping going to the end, but despite it being a team game, the honours today really must go to Adam Emmerson.
Gunnislake 359 for 5 (A Emmerson 192 no, S Lees 72, A Dickerson 21). St Stephen II 40 all out (I Dawe 5-14, D Thirupuvanarajah 2-20, L Roberts 2-5) Gunnislake (20 points) beat St Stephen II (3 points) by 319 runs.
