MATCH REPORT 4/8: Gatting, batting and outstanding catching!

Gerries v Tipton St John at Tipton on 4 August 2024

40/40

Gerries 157/4 Tipton 163/4 – Gerries lost by 6 wickets

I always look forward to playing Tipton St John for its beautiful aspect, a trip to The Bowd Inn afterwards and the creative writing of their match reports.

Your Skipper won the toss and feeling confident in his batting line up decided to bat on what was a lovely afternoon in the sun. In walked Guesty and Padders and we began our innings with a 4 from Guest,.Fantastic! It looked a difficult pitch to bat on with Birch and Shannon bowling a very tight line.

We’d reached 16 when Padders played on to a ball that kept really low, not a lot he could do about it. In game Dan Lobb briming in confidence after his previous score and he took the attack to Tipton hitting 2 sixes on his way to 26 but he fancied another one and was caught. A really good knock that propelled us to 51 for 2.

The experienced Jonah strode to the wicket and put on 46 with Guesty for a belligerent 16. The Skipper then decided to change the batting order and brought in JP to increase the scoring rate and try to get us to 140+. Guesty continued to bat well and was the real backbone of our innings finally out for a jug evading 49.

JP’s innings of 37 contained 3 boundaries and 3 sixes including an all run 4 that he didn’t look all that happy about. Tipton had 4 boundary riders on the leg side but he cleared them with ease. You’ll have to ask him about his technique for getting back into the crease but it worked, JP and Beano put on a really valuable 31 for the fifth wicket.

The Gerries final score was 157 and at Tea we thought that this was a competitive total, if we could get through their first 4 batsmen with 50 needed our chances would be good.

Tipton came out to bat with local knowledge to their advantage. We opened with Smudge and Gordon saving JP for the very dangerous Buckland and to take the pace off the ball. Theres never a dull moment when The Landlord bowls and this game was no exception. A great attempted stumping by the impressive Mike Seal saw a loud appeal from the Gerries only for the square leg umpire to give the batter not out, fair enough. Is it right that the standing umpire mentioned that we had cheated during our innings in not giving a decision, does this encourage the impartiality of the umpire and surely against the spirit of the game. Gordon stood up for his team leaving their umpire embarrassed.

The Landlord showed his skill and guile and with great support from Lobbers in the field took the wicket of Thayre. Phillips and Thayre looked dangerous but Smudge beat the bat more than once but it it was time for a bowling change and Beano replaced The Landlord. His impact came immediately as he bowled Phillips. In came the dangerous Buckland so time to unleash JP.

He bowled with pace and guile, getting Bennet for 21 with an outstanding catch from Jonah diving forward. He nearly then removed Buckland but the ball just cleared the slips.

Beano gave us hope with another wicket with Padfield taking the catch. One more wicket and we’re through to the tail. Alas it wasn’t to be with Stephen Jones on debut and Jonah unable to break through. All in all we fielded well with all the bowlers backed up by the fielders including a terrific performance in the field from Kieron Skinner.

Not too much disappointment in defeat with a lot of positives and cold Thatchers Gold waiting for us as The Bowd.

Onwards and upwards…