Three batmen dominated Saturday’s match between Pencarrow and Gunnislake, amassing a total of 281 runs between them. But the heroics of Dan Pethick for Gunnislake could not save them, proving that cricket is a team game. Isaac Jago and Simon Clay, at opposite ends of their careers, put on a partnership of 215 for Pencarrow, ultimately setting the home team up for a 65 run victory.
Gunnislake won the toss and chose to bowl. Things looked good when Graham Murray bowled Phil Williams in the second over, bringing the experienced Simon Clay to the wicket where he joined teenager Isaac Jago. On a fast and parched outfield the runs came steadily, with the run rate hovering around six an over. Clay was still in his teens runs wise when he skied one to deep mid-off, only for the chance to be spilled. It was a let-off that Gunnislake were to rue.
Both players played with aggression and survived a few edges that flew to the boundary. Gunnislake thought they had Jago caught behind in his forties, but the very fine edge (or not) went undetected and the Snickometer has not yet reached Cornwall League cricket! Apart from those incidents, Pencarrow went serenely on their way. 103 at the halfway stage rose to 150 in the 28th over. Then at 33 overs Pencarrow applied the accelerator. The ball flew to all parts as Gunnislake’s bowlers took a hammering. The next four overs saw 55 runs added and Gunnislake were looking down the barrel.
However, the 37th over, bowled by Kevin Beare, proved eventful. Four wides, but also three wickets as the Pencarrow batsmen perished going for glory, selflessly piling on runs for the team. Clay was the first victim, three runs short of a century and Jago was last out, for a fine 84. All three catches were taken in the deep, the third being a relay catch as Dan Pethick gobbled up a miss-field before it could hit the deck. But the damage had been done and Pencarrow closed on a daunting 258 for 4.
Gunnislake’s reply once again seemed to depend heavily on the division’s leading scorer, Dan Pethick. Four boundaries in the third over set the scene, and Pencarrow hastily retreated, placing four fielders on the boundary ropes. Loic Pennington kept the score down at one end, his first seven overs going for a meagre 14 runs. While Pencarrow captain Tristan Jago was more expensive at the other end, he did get two early wickets, with the score having reached only 31. Billy Pitts, batting at number 4, stayed somewhat longer, including a couple of lovely straight drives for four. Emboldened he tried to hit one over the top and but did not get enough on the ball, mid-off running behind the bowler to take the catch.
Meanwhile Pethick was once again in imperious form. Fielders on the boundary were no problem as six sixes circumvented their positioning. Pethick reached his fourth century of the season in the 24th over but promptly fell to a well taken catch at long-off. Gunnislake were 138 for 4, with the other batsmen having contributed a grand total of 21 runs. Pencarrow knew that the game was now theirs for the taking.
Graham Murray, Dinesh Thirupuvanarajah and Kevin Beare all reached double figures, and at 179 for 5 there was still a flicker of hope. But the required run rate was increasing, and both batsmen fell trying to force the score along. Then the Gunnislake tail did its usual party trick as the last five wickets fell for ten runs. Gunnislake were all out for 193, 65 runs short and well beaten. Simon Clay followed his batting performance up with five wickets from his gentle off-spin, to finish with 5 for 56 and the man of the match award.
Gunnislake slip to seventh in the league and will be looking over their shoulders at the battle to avoid relegation. The football season starts shortly, and Dan Pethick will not be around for the final run-in. Time for the other players and batsmen to step up a bit!
Pencarrow 258 for 4 (S Clay 97, I Jago 84; K Beare 3-44). Gunnislake 193 (D Pethick 100, D Thirupuvanarajah 22; S Clay 5=56). Pencarrow (20 points) beat Gunnislake (6 points) by 65 runs.
