Coaver Gerries Cricket Club

Gerries versus Bakers XI (or should it be XII!!) at Coaver on 11 August 2024

Gerries 194 AO  Bakers 103 AO, Gerries WON by 91 runs

40:40 [Ed: Yep, that’s 40 overs…no typos here!]

A curious game in many ways. Both sides had the luxury of 12 players so a 12 a side game was agreed.  With 40 overs per side (suggested by the Bakers captain) and a compulsory retirement score of 30, it was hoped that all players would get the opportunity to bat. An additional fielder would obviously plug a gap in the field but a fast outfield suggested that a high scoring encounter was in prospect and on a warm afternoon heat exhaustion was a definite possibility for the older Gerries players.  Bakers are a good side, though possibly not as strong in weekend games and we were hopeful.

Jonah won the toss and sensibly elected to bat opening with Skins and Beano. Skins departed early but James arrived at the crease and set about the bowling, reaching the CRS in rapid time courtesy of 7 fours.   While Beano departed for a solid 15, the score moved along quite nicely. Guesty was the second batman to reach the CRS and there were useful contributions from Kyson (20) Daniel Lobb (18) and the ever-dependable Jonah (21).   However, wickets continued to fall regularly and despite a promising inning of 12 from new player Dom Baker it was left to the returning James to continue his assault on the Bakers bowlers towards the end of the innings.  He finished on 63 not out (12 fours and 1 six) when the side were all out on 194 for 11 (remember both sides had 12 players) with one over remaining.

We thought we were probably 30 runs short of setting a really challenging target and our score seemed eminently reachable if Bakers got a good start.  Jonah knew we needed early wickets and opened with JP and one of our occasional players, Luke Glasson.  JP and Luke beat the bat time and time again yet it was often the full tosses and half volleys that got crucial wickets.  Aided by some good catches from Beano, Guesty and James, our opening pair ripped through the top….and middle order.  Skipper Jonah showed steely resolve to ensure that the advantage was maintained and bowled each for 7 overs straight by which time the top eight batsmen had been removed with the total only having reached 50.  These wickets included a first Gerries hat trick for for JP, although this accolade has to be tempered with fact that the middle victim was a young lad (Greed junior), who must have been petrified at the prospect of facing JP.  JP to his credit bowled the ball at half pace but it was a pearler, moved a mile and demolished the stumps.  This cruel act which left the departing batter somewhat tearful, earnt JP a right telling off from Mrs JP who thought he should have been much kinder in view of his victim’s tender years.

JP and Luke were replaced by Kyson and Daniel, who continued to exert pressure on the batting side. They bowled really well and while Bakers made something of a recovery in pursuit of a respectable score, they continued to lose wickets.  Jonah, showing his ‘softer’ side, allowed Greed Junior to return for a second innings,…this time without facing JP….but the innings finally subsided on 103-12 and we had won a handsome victory by 91 runs.  The bowling figures merit being shown in full.

JP 7-1-21-4
Luke 7-0-25-4
Kyson 5.5-0-22-3
Daniel 5-0-30-1

Well done lads.  We do not beat Bakers very often!

PM/12/8/24