With a constant threat of rain, Gunnislake cantered to an eight wicket win over Holsworthy II in double quick time. Holsworthy were bowled out for only 54, which Gunnislake quickly knocked off for the loss of two wickets, to claim maximum points.
A wet morning gave way to the forecast dry weather, and having had the pitch covered all week the match started almost on time, but with the constant threat of showers. Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bowl, hoping to force a quick win against a Holsworthy team having a torrid season in the bottom two of Division 5 East.
Opening for Gunnislake were Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah and Paul Hollow, who both managed to extract movement off the seam, testing the Holsworthy batters from the start. Gunnislake captain Dinesh, leading from the front, took two early wickets, both bowled with balls that cut back. The next over dangerman Ben Hutchings, pouncing on a slightly over-pitched ball from Hollow, crashed the ball into the covers. Unfortunately, it was straight at Joshy Varghese, who clung on to a rasping catch. 13 for 3 soon became 20 for 4, with Holsworthy in all sorts of trouble. A brief recovery followed, with the experienced Danny Tape and Holsworthy captain Ryan Seymour-Smith picking up boundaries off the occasional bad ball. But Tape mis-timed an attempted pull to a ball that climbed, missing the ball entirely, a fate that instead fell to his to his off bail, giving Dinesh his third wicket. Paul Hollow followed his captain’s lead, as Seymour-Smith edged onto his stumps. 52 for 6 became 54 for 8 as Hollow ripped through the tail and claimed a five wicket haul.
If Holsworthy hoped for some late respite, they were out of luck. Danny Davies was brought into the attack and took the remaining two wickets in his first over, including a caught and bowled, as Holsworthy crumbled to 54 all out in only seventeen overs.
The reply got underway before a tea break, with Gunnislake keeping a wary eye on the clouds overhead. They lost two early wickets to give Holsworthy a glimmer of hope, but the best chance for Holsworthy arrived when a sharp shower descended on play. But it was a short and sharp shower and play quickly resumed. Billy Pitts provided calm and reassurance at one end while Joshy Varghese decided it was no time to hang around. He hit four quick fours and in a blink it was all over as Gunnislake passed their target with twenty-five overs to spare. Varghese finished on 23 not out, with Pitts 12 not out at the other end. Oisin O’Kelly and Ryan Evans claimed one wicket each for Holsworthy.
Gunnislake claimed the maximum 20 points from the match, to climb to a final sixth place in the table. Holsworthy slip to the bottom of the table, overtaken by one point by Luckett, who managed two more points, despite their own defeat at Newquay. For next season Gunnislake have to aim for more consistency from their batting line-up. Meanwhile Holsworthy will have a chance to rebuild in Division 6. With three 15 year olds in the team, and indeed three women, there is plenty for them to look forward to and better times ahead.
Holsworthy 54 all out (D Tape 18, R Seymour-Smith 17; P Hollow 5-22, D Thirupuvanarajah 3-27, D Davies 2-2). Gunnislake 56-2 (J Varghese 23no). Gunnislake (20 points) beat Holsworthy (2 points) by 8 wickets.
Iconic Opticians Man of the Match: Paul Hollow
