After two defeats Gunnislake got back to winning ways with a six wicket victory over St Neot’s second eleven at their Wenmouth ground. On another blistering hot day St Neot won the toss and chose to bat, which suited everyone as Gunnislake had decided to bowl if the toss had gone their way.
Ray Clarke and Matthew Glencross opened the batting for St Neot, while Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah and Lee Roberts took on the challenge for Gunnislake. Glencross was out bowled by Roberts without troubling the scorers, but this brought promising youngster Alex Eldridge to the crease. When Clarke was out for 15 he was joined by seasoned campaigner David Eldridge. This provided a father and son combination for the assembled spectators. Dad hit the occasional ball hard, but in the main it was watchful defence as Gunnislake kept a tight grip on the run rate. At drinks after 20 overs the score had crept up to 41 for 2: not enough for St Neot. So David Eldridge flexed his muscles and took on the bowlers. Joe Organ was hit for consecutive sixes over long on, but Organ immediately got his own back, bowling Eldridge next ball. The danger man was out! St Neot kept the score motoring along at a reasonable rate, but failed to make up the ground lost in the first 20 overs. Gunnislake’s iconic captain, Mark Everett, came on late in the innings and helped himself to four wickets, as Gunnislake fell just short of maximum bowling points. The St Neot score at the close, 146 for 9, seemed a bit light.
However, Gunnislake’s batting has been brittle this season, so no-one was counting any chickens 
and it was still all to play for. Gunnislake duly got off to a brisk start scoring at over four an over, but Stephen Rowe, opening from one end with leg breaks, tempted Adam Emmerson into a false shot, caught at square leg for 16. Next ball Brian Martin was trapped LBW for a duck and St Neot began to believe they were in with a good chance. David Eldridge kept one end very tight, going for only 12 runs in six overs, but Joe Organ took the fight back to St Neot. He drove hard and with relish, before being bowled for 27; at 77 for 3 either side could still win. Andrew Dickerson, appearing against his old club, kept up the momentum for Gunnislake, but in trying to hit the ball out of the ground managed to miss a straight one. Another bowled for 27; even now there could be a twist in the tale. But for once Gunnislake did not panic and opener Stephen Lees and Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah shepherded the visitors home with six wickets and twelve overs to spare. Lees finished on 47 not out, while Stephen Rowe with 2 for 22 was the pick of the St Neot bowling.
And so Gunnislake left with 19 points, while St Neot had to be content with five from this match. How the season will finish remains to be seen, but your reporter might venture to predict neither side will trouble either the promotion or relegation places. Famous last words!
St Neot 146-9 (D Eldridge 37, T Dyer 21; M Everett 4-15, J Organ 3-56). Gunnislake 148-4 (S Lees 47no, J Organ 27, A Dickerson 27; S Rowe 2-22). Gunnislake (19 points) beat St Neot (5 points) by six wickets.