Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Gerries versus Clymping Cricket Club at Tedburn St Mary on 21 July 2024

35/35 (ish)

Gerries won by 5 wickets.

Enthusiastically led by Gerries legend Martin Milford, the Sussex based tourists arrived in great time, having travelled a very long way, and consuming most of the contents of the onboard bar, well before Yeovil.

Armed with Beret’s, a pirate hat and a hefty string of garlic for error prone fielders to don, and a strict fines regime. The sun was shining, the stage was set (if covered in bit of Guinness).

Gerries lost the toss and were tasked with bowling first, on a small Tedburn ground and a bouncy artificial track, runs were on offer.

Clewlow and JP opened with a swinging ball, to a swinging opening pair. But tight bowling saw the start limited to 30 off the first 8 overs. Between them they removed the openers, and the game was on.

Then came James Evans and stand in supremo Luke Glasson, who bowled superbly, both taking three each – incidentally the same number of balls some of the batters were swinging at.

As the bats continued to swing, catching chances came thick and fast, but Gerries seemed in a generous mood offering up 4 dropped chances off various bowlers (I assume 4 but lost count, so it could have been more…). A fielding based net session in the offering this winter, me thinks! Luke was the calm on the rocky, pirate ridden waters with three catches of his own, two off his own bowling!

But the spirit never waned, neither did the Sussex mentality of go big or go home (which would require another couple of crates of Stella).

After some well executed ground fielding, especially from the new youth policy Ian Clewlow, Sussex ended on 131 all out. With special mention to Andrew Grant, for a superb 2 ball over and immense figures of 1/0.

The Gerries started quickly, with Nick Guest and a very welcome return for Jim Masters, who scored with some fine shots, but a good catch saw him sent back in the sheds/bar for 15. Padders (with helmet very firmly in place) strode out, only to return one ball later after a great delivery, and another very smart catch, setting up hat-trick chance. The incoming Dan Lobb fended it off well. He accelerated with some lusty blows on a the small ground, taking Gerries to 72 off 11, but was finally caught for 23.

Jonah next… Plenty of overs to bat skipper.. but alas, out caught for 2.

79 for 4. Here we go…

But worry not, up stepped James Evans, batting with poise, composure and a beautiful cover drive. Shot of the day by a long way.

At the other end Guest was there, anchor of the innings, batting against some very tidy bowling. A cultured knock and reaching his half century with some ease, taking us past the hundred mark in the 20th over.

James and Guest continued to rack up the runs, but James was finally caught for very fine 33. 1 run needed for victory. Luke came in, faced one ball, and hit a four to take us past the line to a well deserved victory. Guest left unbeaten on a 54.

A great fun game, lots of laughs played in a great spirit, and a huge thanks to Milly and his team for a great afternoon. We wish them (and the hotel!) luck for the rest of the tour.

Bowling figures
Clewlow 2-34
Sewell 1-25
Evans 3-36
Glasson 3-32
Grant 1-0

Keep it up Gerries – Pinhoe next!