Having reached half way in the season Gunnislake played hosts to Holsworthy at their home ground, the iconic Hawkmoor, nestled next to the River Tamar. Holsworthy arrived hoping to avenge their defeat in the first match of the season, with a team packed with promising youngsters and an average age less than half that of Gunnislake.
Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bat, but were soon in trouble with Stephen Lees and Brian Martin back in the pavilion without troubling the scorers. Charlie Bingham bowled with pace from the River End while Ben Hutchings got the ball to swing and move at the Village End. Adam Emmerson defended watchfully at first, but the arrival of Joe Organ at the crease speeded things up and the score began to build. Emmerson fell in the thirteenth over, well caught at deep mid-off, for another quality 35. How would Holsworthy fare against a brittle Gunnislake middle order? Organ was out for a belligerent 29, but this brought Kevin Beare to the crease, to join Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah.
A steady partnership developed, with Beare nurdling and Dinesh chasing boundaries and Gunnislake were edging their noses in front. 112 for 4 at the half way mark was now looking respectable. But at 142, 143 and 148 Gunnislake had a wobble, as Beare (23) Dinesh (47) and Andrew Dickerson all fell to excellent catches. Lee Roberts and Dean Organ rebuilt the innings slightly, before Dan Marks took the final three wickets with the score stuck on 174. Holsworthy fielded particularly well, taking eight excellent catches, including three caught and bowled. On a pitch where 200 has been about par the total did not seem enough.
After refreshments the Holsworthy reply got underway, with captain Lyndon Piper (91 not out in the opening fixture) and Hayden Sharp walking out to chase the runs. Facing them were Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah and Lee Roberts. Holsworthy set off at speed, but Dinesh got a breakthrough at 42, Sharp being trapped LBW. Alfie Sealey then kept Piper company while the score grew to 75 after 15 overs, well ahead of schedule. Were Holsworthy hoping to catch the 17.34 train from Gunnislake? But Dinesh struck twice, bowling Sealey then Tai Wonnacott. Enter Ben Hutchings (94 not out last week): the Holsworthy big guns were now in play. Was this the pivotal time? In his last over Dinesh struck again, with Piper caught behind, out for 44, with Holsworthy now on 99 for 4. The match was evenly poised and could go either way. Iain Barker, brought on to bowl from the Village End, was promptly hit for two fours, but revenge was sweet as Paul Lovejoy missed the third to fall LBW. 123 for 5. Two more quick wickets and the pendulum swung in favour of Gunnislake. Then Hutchings tried to hit one out of the ground over square leg but got a top edge. An eternity passed as the ball headed up and up and finally slowly down, to be clung on to at second attempt at square leg. 126 for 7 and Holsworthy were in trouble. Roberts returned for a second spell, and with the help of Joe Organ polished off the tail. Young keeper Ryan Seymour-Smith was last out for 15 with the score on 153 and Gunnislake had sneaked home by 21 runs.
Six of the Holsworthy victims were bowled, so on this occasion the old saying catches win matches was trumped by the ability to bowl at the stumps. Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah was man of the match for Gunnislake, top scoring with the bat as well as taking four wickets.
A close and competitive match fell the way of Gunnislake but Holsworthy’s young team can look forward to plenty more wins in the years to come.
Gunnislake 174 (D Thirupuvanarajah 47, A Emmerson 35; D Marks 4-11, C Bingham 3-37). Holsworthy 153 (L Piper 44; D Thirupuvanarajah 4-34). Gunnislake (19 points) beat Holsworthy (8 points) by 21 runs.
